Biochar suspended solution

ABSTRACT

A method is provided for producing a biochar solution. The method comprises the steps of collecting biochar particles, dispersing the biochar particles in a liquid solution and adding a stabilizing agent to keep the biochar in flowable suspension. The stabilizing agent may be added to the liquid solution or to the biochar prior to placing the biochar in solution.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/111,822 filed Aug. 24, 2018 titled BIOCHAR SUSPENDED SOLUTION, whichis a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/268,383 filed Sep. 16, 2016 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,059,634issued Aug. 28, 2018) titled BIOCHAR SUSPENDED SOLUTION, which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/219,501filed Sep. 16, 2015 titled BIOCHAR SUSPENDED SOLUTION and U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/290,026 filed on Feb. 2,2016, titled BIOCHAR AGGREGATE PARTICLES; is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/356,925 filed Mar. 18, 2019 titledMETHODS FOR APPLICATION OF BIOCHAR, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/263,227 filed Sep. 12, 2016 (now U.S.Pat. No. 10,233,129 issued Mar. 19, 2019) titled METHODS FOR APPLICATIONOF BIOCHAR, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 62/216,638 filed on Sep. 10, 2015, titled METHODS FORAPPLICATION OF BIOCHAR; is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/184,325 filed Jun. 16, 2016, titled BIOCHARCOATED SEEDS, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/186,876 filed Jun. 30, 2015, titled BIOCHARCOATED SEEDS; is a is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/550,506 filed Aug. 26, 2019, titled METHOD FOR APPLICATIONOF BIOCHAR IN TURF GRASS LANDSCAPING ENVIRONMENTS, which is a divisionalof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/184,763 filed Jun. 16, 2016 (nowU.S. Pat. No. 10,392,313 issued Aug. 27, 2019) titled METHOD FORAPPLICATION OF BIOCHAR IN TURF GRASS LANDSCAPING ENVIRONMENTS, whichclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.62/180,525 filed Jun. 16, 2015 titled METHOD FOR APPLICATION OF BIOCHARIN TURF GRASS ENVIRONMENT; is a continuation-in-part application of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/406,986 filed May 8, 2019 titled ENHANCEDBIOCHAR, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/792,486 filed Oct. 24, 2017 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,301,228 issued May28, 2019) titled ENHANCED BIOCHAR, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/156,256 filed May 16, 2016 (now U.S. Pat.No. 9,809,502 issued Nov. 7, 2017) titled ENHANCED BIOCHAR, whichapplication claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/162,219, filed on May 15, 2015, titled ENHANCED BIOCHAR; is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/035,177filed on Jul. 13, 2018 titled BIOCHARS AND BIOCHAR TREATMENT PROCESSES,which application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/213,122 filed on Jul. 18, 2016 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,023,503 issuedJul. 17, 2018) titled BIOCHARS AND BIOCHAR TREATMENT PROCESSES, whichapplication is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/873,053 filed on Oct. 1, 2015 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,252,951 issuedApr. 9, 2019) titled BIOCHARS AND BIOCHAR TREATMENT PROCESSES, whichapplication claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/058,445, filed on Oct. 1, 2014, titled METHODS, MATERIALS ANDAPPLICATIONS FOR CONTROLLED POROSITY AND RELEASE STRUCTURES ANDAPPLICATIONS and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/058,472,filed on Oct. 1, 2014, titled HIGH ADDITIVE RETENTION BIOCHARS, METHODSAND APPLICATIONS.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/268,383 (now U.S. Pat. No.10,059,634 issued Aug. 28, 2018) to which this application claimspriority as its parent application is also a continuation-in-part ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/385,986 filed on Dec. 23, 2014 (nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,493,380 issued Nov. 15, 2016), titled METHOD FORENHANCING SOIL GROWTH USING BIO-CHAR, which is a 371 of PCT/US12/39862filed on May 29, 2012, which application is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/154,213 filed on Jun. 6, 2011 (nowU.S. Pat. No. 8,317,891 issued Nov. 27, 2012).

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/268,383 (now U.S. Pat. No.10,059,634 issued Aug. 28, 2018) to which this application claimspriority as its parent application is also a continuation-in-part ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/036,480, filed on Sep. 25, 2013 (nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,359,268 issued Jun. 7, 2016) titled METHOD FOR PRODUCINGNEGATIVE CARBON FUEL, which application is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/189,709, filed on Jul. 25, 2011 (now U.S. Pat.No. 8,568,493 issued Oct. 29, 2013). All of the above referenced patentsand patent applications are incorporated in their entirety by referencein this application.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to a biochar solution which consists of a liquidproduct containing a suspension of biochar particles and a method tocreate a suspended biochar solution.

BACKGROUND

Biochar has been known for many years as a soil enhancer. It containshighly porous, high carbon content material similar to the type of verydark, fertile anthropogenic soil found in the Amazon Basin known asTerra Preta. Terra Preta has very high charcoal content and is made froma mixture of charcoal, bone, and manure. Biochar is created by thepyrolysis of biomass, which generally involves heating and/or burning oforganic matter, in a reduced oxygen environment, at a predeterminedrate. Such heating and/or burning is stopped when the matter reaches acharcoal like stage. The highly porous material of biochar is perfectlysuited to host beneficial microbes, retain nutrients, hold water, andact as a delivery system for a range of beneficial compounds suited tospecific applications.

During the production of biochar, large portions of biochar fines ordust particles are created. Along with the loss of useful product, thesedust particles can be harmful for biochar manufacturing and agriculturaldistribution equipment. Due to the equipment not being equipped tohandle the dust and fine remnants of the biochar, the dust and fineparticles have the potential to clog and damage the manufacturing anddistribution equipment. The various particle size distribution foundduring biochar manufacturing leads to distribution problems withagricultural equipment and causes the necessity of sizing equipment andcostly capital expenditure. The light density of the biochar dustparticles also makes mixing of growth enhancers such as fertilizers ormicrobes difficult as it allows for settling, separation, anddistribution problems.

Given the known benefits of biochar, a need remains for a method tocreate a biochar solution that minimizes the complications of biochardust or fine remnants to create a biochar soil enhancer with consistentviscosity and physical/chemical properties that can be uniformlydistributed and applied in a variety of ways in large and small scaleapplications to have the highest positive impact on soils.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a liquid product containing asuspension of biochar particles and method for producing this biocharsolution using additives to enhance product application, agriculturalgrowth, improved biology and microbiology in the rhizosphere, andimproved use of water and nutrients in or applied during the growingseason to the soil, soilless media, hydroponics, or other systems.Additionally, this product may be used as a mechanism to deliverbiochar, microbes, and other compounds necessary for microbial lifesimultaneously through a wide variety of agricultural equipment.

The method includes producing a solution that may contain a mixture ofbiochar particles, water and xanthan gum and/or other additives to keepthe biochar in flowable suspension.

The method comprises the steps of (i) collecting or producing biocharparticles of the proper size; (ii) dispersing the biochar particles in aliquid solution; (iii) removing large particles if necessary; and (iv)adding one or more stabilizing agents to keep the biochar in flowablesuspension. It should be noted that these steps can be performed in anyorder, or steps may be repeated during the process. Through thisprocess, a consistent, dust free, biochar solution is created that canbe easily distributed and applied in small and large scale applicationsand with existing agricultural irrigation and/or fertilizationtechnology. Additionally, this method allows for much improved fieldmixing of other additives, inputs, or amendments in many agriculturalsituations.

By creating a suspended biochar solution, the variety of methodsavailable for its application is abundant. Application methods thatinclude the use of pumps and sprays can be used, which methods may beselected based on the area to be covered. Sprayers, booms, and mistingheads can be an efficient way to apply the biochar solution to a largearea, while backpacks or hose sprayers can be sufficient for smallerapplications. Aside from spraying applications, biochar solution mayalso be pumped through the ground to eliminate the potential for winderosion while allowing for faster infiltration into the soil.Furthermore, biochar solution can be used in connection with a varietyof equipment used for hydroseeding or liquid fertilizer application.Specialized devices to mix and/or apply this solution may also beenvisioned by one skilled in the art. As there are so many differentoptions to apply biochar solution, much time and expense can be saved.

Furthermore, biochar solutions can infiltrate some soil types much moreefficiently. Not only is the delivery of biochar faster, but there islittle delay of the plants' ability to utilize the physical and chemicalproperties of biochar. The application of biochar solution in the soilresults in more consistently fuller plants with unvarying vitality andlongevity that can ultimately be maintained with less water.

The suspended biochar solution can be created with either raw biochar ortreated biochar that is treated in the manner or method furtherdescribed below. In some cases, the biochar may be treated or processedin accordance with the methods outlined in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/873,053, or other related work which has been incorporated intothis application previously by reference. In yet other cases, thebiochar in this, or the following application methods may be treated orprocessed to enhance certain characteristics, such as pH,hydrophilicity, ion exchange, or removal of other deleterious substanceswhich may impede positive benefits. Many of these modifications can beimportant in improving the efficacy of application—especially at lowerrates.

As mentioned, the biochar solution can be applied through a wide rangeof devices, including pumpable and sprayable equipment. The applicationof the biochar solution can be used for trees, row crops, vines, turfgrasses, potted plants, flowering plants, annuals, perennials,evergreens and seedlings. The biochar solution may also be applied toanimal pens, bedding, and/or other areas where animal waste is presentto reduce odor and emission of unpleasant or undesirable vapors.Furthermore it may be applied to compost piles to reduce odor,emissions, and temperature or even to areas where fertilizer orpesticide runoff is occurring to slow or inhibit leaching and runoff.The biochar solution may be incorporated into or around the root zone ofa plant. As most trees, rows, and specialty crops extract greater than90% of their water from the first twenty-four inches below the soilsurface, the above applications will generally be effectiveincorporating the biochar around the root zone from the top surface ofthe soil and up to a depth of 24″ below the top surface of the soil,depending on the plant type and species, or alternatively, within a 24″radius surrounding the roots regardless of root depth or proximity fromthe top surface of the soil. When the plant roots are closer to thesurface, the incorporation of the biochar within the top 2-6″ inches ofthe soil surface may also be effective. Greater depths are morebeneficial for plants having larger root zones, such as trees.Furthermore, biochar solution may also be utilized and applied throughirrigation equipment. In summary, when any type of liquid is applied tothe plants such as water or liquid fertilizer, the suspended biocharsolution can be added to the liquid to provide further soil enhancementcharacteristics. The solution can even be used as a “root dip” to coatthe root tissue or root ball of a plant, tree, or shrub duringtransplanting, movement, or installation.

Other devices, apparatus, systems, methods, features and advantages ofthe invention are or will become apparent to one with skill in the artupon examination of the following figures and detailed description. Itis intended that all such additional systems, methods, features andadvantages be included within this description, be within the scope ofthe invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

FIGURES

The invention may be better understood by referring to the followingfigures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale,emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-section of one example of a raw biocharparticle.

FIG. 2a is a SEM (10 KV×3.00K 10.0 m) of pore morphology of treatedbiochar made from pine.

FIG. 2b is a SEM (10 KV×3.00K 10.0 m) of pore morphology of treatedbiochar made from birch.

FIG. 2c is a SEM (10 KV×3.00K 10.0 m) of pore morphology of treatedbiochar made from coconut shells.

FIG. 3 is a chart showing porosity distribution of various biochars.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart process diagram of one implementation of aprocess for treating the raw biochar in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4a illustrates a schematic of one example of an implementation of abiochar treat processes that that includes washing, pH adjustment andmoisture adjustment.

FIG. 4b illustrates yet another example of an implementation of abiochar treatment processing that includes inoculation.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow diagram of one example of a treatment systemfor use in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a chart showing the water holding capacities of treatedbiochar as compared to raw biochar and sandy clay loam soil and ascompared to raw biochar and soilless potting soil.

FIG. 7 illustrates the different water retention capacities of rawbiochar versus treated biochar measured gravimetrically.

FIG. 8 is a chart showing the plant available water of raw biocharcompared to treated biochar (wet and dry).

FIG. 9 is a chart showing the weight loss of treated biochars verses rawbiochar samples when heated at varying temperatures using a TGA testingmethod.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram showing one example of a method for infusingbiochar.

FIG. 11 illustrates the improved liquid content of biochar using vacuumimpregnation as against soaking the biochar in liquid.

FIG. 12a is a chart comparing total retained water of treated biocharafter soaking and after vacuum impregnation.

FIG. 12b is a chart comparing water on the surface, interstitially andin the pores of biochar after soaking and after vacuum impregnation.

FIG. 13 illustrates how the amount of water or other liquid in the poresof vacuum processed biochars can be increased varied based upon theapplied pressure.

FIG. 14 illustrates the effects of NPK impregnation of biochar onlettuce yield.

FIG. 15 is a chart showing nitrate release curves of treated biocharsinfused with nitrate fertilizer.

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram of one example of a method for producing asuspended biochar solution.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in the attached figures, the present invention relates toa biochar solution and a method for producing biochar solutions that canbe used in agricultural distribution equipment or be hand distributed byconsumers for uniform application to achieve the highest positive impacton soils, plant life, or the soil biome or microbiome. As describedbelow, raw biochar may be treated to increase the water holding andretention capacities of the overall soil. Through treatment, theproperties of the raw biochar can be modified to significantly increasethe biochar's ability to retain water and/or nutrients while also, inmany cases, creating an environment beneficial to microorganisms. Theprocessing of the biochar can also ensure that the pH, hydrophilicity,particle size, usable pore volume, flow characteristics, and otherimportant physical and chemical properties of biochar used in thepresent application ares suitable for creating soil conditionsbeneficial for plant growth, which has been a challenge for rawbiochars.

For purposes of this application, the term “biochar” shall be given itsbroadest possible meaning and shall include any solid materials obtainedfrom the pyrolysis, torrefaction, gasification or any other thermaland/or chemical conversion of a biomass, where the biochar contains atleast 55% carbon based upon weight. Pyrolysis is generally defined as athermochemical decomposition of organic material at elevatedtemperatures in the absence of, or with reduced levels of oxygen.

For purposes of this application, biochar may include, but not belimited to, BMF char disclosed and taught by U.S. Pat. No. 8,317,891,which is incorporated into this application by reference, and thosematerials falling within the IBI and AAPFCO definition of biochar. Whenthe biochar is referred to as “treated” or undergoes “treatment,” itshall mean raw, pyrolyzed biochar that has undergone additionalphysical, biological, and/or chemical processing.

As used herein, unless specified otherwise, the terms “carbonaceous”,“carbon based”, “carbon containing”, and similar such terms are to begiven their broadest possible meaning, and would include materialscontaining carbon in various states, crystallinities, forms andcompounds.

As used herein, unless stated otherwise, room temperature is 25° C. And,standard temperature and pressure is 25° C. and 1 atmosphere. Unlessstated otherwise, generally, the term “about” is meant to encompass avariance or range of ±10%, the experimental or instrument errorassociated with obtaining the stated value, and preferably the larger ofthese.

A. Biochars

Typically, biochars include porous carbonaceous materials, such ascharcoal, that are used as soil amendments or other suitableapplications. Biochar most commonly is created by pyrolysis of abiomass. In addition to the benefits to plant growth, yield and quality,etc.; biochar provides the benefit of reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) inthe atmosphere by serving as a method of carbon sequestration. Thus,biochar has the potential to help mitigate climate change, via carbonsequestration. However, to accomplish this important, yet ancillarybenefit, to any meaningful extent, the use of biochar in agriculturalapplications must become widely accepted, e.g., ubiquitous.Unfortunately, because of the prior failings in the biochar arts, thishas not occurred. It is believed that with the solutions of the presentinvention may this level of use of biochar be achieved; and moreimportantly, yet heretofore unobtainable, realize the benefit ofsignificant carbon sequestration.

In general, one advantage of putting biochar in soil includes long termcarbon sequestration. It is theorized that as worldwide carbon dioxideemissions continue to mount, benefits may be obtained by, controlling,mitigating and reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphereand the oceans. It is further theorized that increased carbon dioxideemissions are associated with the increasing industrial development ofdeveloping nations, and are also associated with the increase in theworld's population. In addition to requiring more energy, the increasingworld population will require more food. Thus, rising carbon dioxideemissions can be viewed as linked to the increasing use of naturalresources by an ever increasing global population. As some suggest, thislarger population brings with it further demands on food productionrequirements. Biochar uniquely addresses both of these issues byproviding an effective carbon sink, e.g., carbon sequestration agent, aswell as, an agent for improving and increasing agricultural output. Inparticular, biochar is unique in its ability to increase agriculturalproduction, without increasing carbon dioxide emission, and preferablyreducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. However, asdiscussed above, this unique ability of biochar has not been realized,or seen, because of the inherent problems and failings of prior biocharsincluding, for example, high pH, phytotoxicity due to high metalscontent and/or residual organics, and dramatic product inconsistencies.

Biochar can be made from basically any source of carbon, for example,from hydrocarbons (e.g., petroleum based materials, coal, lignite, peat)and from a biomass (e.g., woods, hardwoods, softwoods, waste paper,coconut shell, manure, chaff, food waste, etc.). Combinations andvariations of these starting materials, and various and differentmembers of each group of starting materials can be, and are, used. Thus,the large number of vastly different starting materials leads tobiochars having different properties.

Many different pyrolysis or carbonization processes can be, and are usedto create biochars. In general, these processes involve heating thestarting material under positive pressure, reduced pressure, vacuum,inert atmosphere, or flowing inert atmosphere, through one or moreheating cycles where the temperature of the material is generallybrought above about 400° C., and can range from about 300° C. to about900° C. The percentage of residual carbon formed and several otherinitial properties are strong functions of the temperature and timehistory of the heating cycles. In general, the faster the heating rateand the higher the final temperature the lower the char yield.Conversely, in general, the slower the heating rate or the lower thefinal temperature the greater the char yield. The higher finaltemperatures also lead to modifying the char properties by changing theinorganic mineral matter compositions in addition to surface organicchemistries, which in turn, modify the char properties. Ramp, or heatingrates, hold times, cooling profiles, pressures, flow rates, and type ofatmosphere can all be controlled, and typically are different from onebiochar supplier to the next. These differences potentially lead to abiochar having different properties, further framing the substantialnature of one of the problems that the present inventions address andsolve. Generally, in carbonization most of the non-carbon elements,hydrogen and oxygen are first removed in gaseous form by the pyrolyticdecomposition of the starting materials, e.g., the biomass. The freecarbon atoms group or arrange into crystallographic formations known aselementary graphite crystallites. Typically, at this point the mutualarrangement of the crystallite is irregular, so that free intersticesexist between them. Thus, pyrolysis involves thermal decomposition ofcarbonaceous material, e.g., the biomass, eliminating non-carbonspecies, and producing a fixed carbon structure.

As noted above, raw or untreated biochar is generally produced bysubjecting biomass to either a uniform or varying pyrolysis temperature(e.g., 300° C. to 550° C. to 750° C. or more) for a prescribed period oftime in a reduced oxygen environment. This process may either occurquickly, with high reactor temperature and short residence times, slowlywith lower reactor temperatures and longer residence times, or anywherein between. To achieve better results, the biomass from which the charis obtained may be first stripped of debris, such as bark, leaves andsmall branches, although this is not necessary. The biomass may furtherinclude feedstock to help adjust the pH, cationic and anionic exchangecapacity, hydrophilicity, and particle size distribution in theresulting raw biochar. In some applications, it is desirous to havebiomass that is fresh, less than six months old, and with an ash contentof less than 3%. Further, by using biochar derived from differentbiomass, e.g., pine, oak, hickory, birch and coconut shells fromdifferent regions, and understanding the starting properties of the rawbiochar, the treatment methods can be tailored to ultimately yield atreated biochar with predetermined, predictable physical and chemicalproperties. Additionally, the biomass may be treated with variousorganic or inorganic substances prior to pyrolysis to impact thereactivity of the material during pyrolysis and/or to potentially befixed in place and available for reaction with various substances duringthe treatment process after pyrolysis. Trace materials, usually ingaseous form, but potentially in other forms, may also be injectedduring the pyrolysis process with the intention of either modifying thecharacteristics of the raw biochar produced, or for potential situationon the raw biochar so that those materials, or a descendant materialcreated by thermal or chemical reaction during pyrolysis, may be reactedwith other compounds during the treatment process.

In general, biochar particles can have a very wide variety of particlesizes and distributions, usually reflecting the sizes occurring in theinput biomass. Additionally, biochar can be ground, sieved, strained, orcrushed after pyrolysis to further modify the particle sizes. Typically,for agricultural uses, biochars with consistent, predictable particlesizes are more desirable. By way of example, the biochar particles canhave particle sizes as shown or measured in Table 1 below. Whenreferring to a batch having ¼ inch particles, the batch would haveparticles that will pass through a 3 mesh sieve, but will not passthrough (i.e., are caught by or sit atop) a 4 mesh sieve.

TABLE 1 U.S. Mesh Microns Millimeters (i.e., mesh) Inches (μm) (mm) 30.2650 6730 6.370 4 0.1870 4760 4.760 5 0.1570 4000 4.000 6 0.1320 33603.360 7 0.1110 2830 2.830 8 0.0937 2380 2.380 10 0.0787 2000 2.000 120.0661 1680 1.680 14 0.0555 1410 1.410 16 0.0469 1190 1.190 18 0.03941000 1.000 20 0.0331 841 0.841 25 0.0280 707 0.707 30 0.0232 595 0.59535 0.0197 500 0.500 40 0.0165 400 0.400 45 0.0138 354 0.354 50 0.0117297 0.297 60 0.0098 250 0.250 70 0.0083 210 0.210 80 0.0070 177 0.177100 0.0059 149 0.149 120 0.0049 125 0.125 140 0.0041 105 0.105 1700.0035 88 0.088 200 0.0029 74 0.074 230 0.0024 63 0.063 270 0.0021 530.053 325 0.0017 44 0.044 400 0.0015 37 0.037

For most basic agricultural applications, it is desirable to use biocharparticles having particle sizes from about ¾ mesh to about 60/70 mesh,about ⅘ mesh to about 20/25 mesh, or about ⅘ mesh to about 30/35 mesh.However, for applications such as seed treatment, or microbial carriers,smaller mesh sizes ranging from 200, to 270, to 325, to 400 mesh orbeyond may be desirable. For many applications of a suspended solutionor flowable form biochar, smaller mesh sizes (below 140 mesh) are alsodesirable although not strictly necessary. It is understood that thedesired mesh size, and mesh size distribution can vary depending upon aparticular application for which the biochar is intended.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-section of one example of a raw biocharparticle. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a biochar particle 100 is a porousstructure that has an outer surface 100 a and a pore structure 101formed within the biochar particle 100. As used herein, unless specifiedotherwise, the terms “porosity”, “porous”, “porous structure”, and“porous morphology” and similar such terms are to be given theirbroadest possible meaning, and would include materials having openpores, closed pores, and combinations of open and closed pores, andwould also include macropores, mesopores, and micropores andcombinations, variations and continuums of these morphologies. Unlessspecified otherwise, the term “pore volume” is the total volume occupiedby the pores in a particle or collection of particles; the term“inter-particle void volume” is the volume that exists between acollection of particle; the term “solid volume or volume of solid means”is the volume occupied by the solid material and does not include anyfree volume that may be associated with the pore or inter-particle voidvolumes; and the term “bulk volume” is the apparent volume of thematerial including the particle volume, the inter-particle void volume,and the internal pore volume.

The pore structure 101 forms an opening 121 in the outer surface 100 aof the biochar particle 100. The pore structure 101 has a macropore 102,which has a macropore surface 102 a, and which surface 102 a has anarea, i.e., the macropore surface area. (In this diagram only a singlemicropore is shown. If multiple micropores are present than the sum oftheir surface areas would equal the total macropore surface area for thebiochar particle.) From the macropore 102, several mesopores 105, 106,107, 108 and 109 are present, each having its respective surfaces 105 a,106 a, 107 a, 108 a and 109 a. Thus, each mesopore has its respectivesurface area; and the sum of all mesopore surface areas would be thetotal mesopore surface area for the particle. From the mesopores, e.g.,107, there are several micropores 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116,117, 118, 119 and 120, each having its respective surfaces 110 a, 111 a,112 a, 113 a, 114 a, 115 a, 116 a, 117 a, 118 a, 119 a and 120 a. Thus,each micropore has its respective surface area and the sum of allmicropore surface areas would be the total micropore surface area forthe particle. The sum of the macropore surface area, the mesoporesurface area and the micropore surface area would be the total poresurface area for the particle.

Macropores are typically defined as pores having a diameter greater than300 nm, mesopores are typically defined as diameter from about 1-300 nm,and micropores are typically defined as diameter of less than about 1nm, and combinations, variations and continuums of these morphologies.The macropores each have a macropore volume, and the sum of thesevolumes would be the total macropore volume. The mesopores each have amesopore volume, and the sum of these volumes would be the totalmesopore volume. The micropores each have a micropore volume, and thesum of these volumes would be the total micropore volume. The sum of themacropore volume, the mesopore volume and the micropore volume would bethe total pore volume for the particle.

Additionally, the total pore surface area, volume, mesopore volume,etc., for a batch of biochar would be the actual, estimated, andpreferably calculated sum of all of the individual properties for eachbiochar particle in the batch.

It should be understood that the pore morphology in a biochar particlemay have several of the pore structures shown, it may have mesoporesopening to the particle surface, it may have micropores opening toparticle surface, it may have micropores opening to macropore surfaces,or other combinations or variations of interrelationship and structurebetween the pores. It should further be understood that the poremorphology may be a continuum, where moving inwardly along the pore fromthe surface of the particle, the pore transitions, e.g., its diameterbecomes smaller, from a macropore, to a mesopore, to a micropore, e.g.,macropore 102 to mesopore 109 to micropore 114.

In general, most biochars have porosities that can range from 0.2cm³/cm³ to about 0.8 cm³/cm³ and more preferably about 0.2 cm³/cm³ toabout 0.5 cm³/CM³ (Unless stated otherwise, porosity is provided as theratio of the total pore volumes (the sum of the micro+meso+macro porevolumes) to the solid volume of the biochar. Porosity of the biocharparticles can be determined, or measured, by measuring the micro-,meso-, and macro pore volumes, the bulk volume, and the inter particlevolumes to determine the solid volume by difference. The porosity isthen calculated from the total pore volume and the solid volume.

As noted above, the use of different biomass potentially leads tobiochars having different properties, including, but not limited todifferent pore structures. By way of example, FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2Cillustrate Scanning Electron Microscope (“SEM”) images of various typesof treated biochars showing the different nature of their poremorphology. FIG. 2A is biochar derived from pine. FIG. 2B is biocharderived from birch. FIG. 2C is biochar derived from coconut shells.

The surface area and pore volume for each type of pore, e.g., macro-,meso- and micro- can be determined by direct measurement using CO₂adsorption for micro-, N₂ adsorption for meso- and macro pores andstandard analytical surface area analyzers and methods, for example,particle analyzers such as Micrometrics instruments for meso- and micropores and impregnation capacity for macro pore volume. Mercuryporosimetry, which measures the macroporosity by applying pressure to asample immersed in mercury at a pressure calibrated for the minimum porediameter to be measured, may also be used to measure pore volume.

The total micropore volume can be from about 2% to about 25% of thetotal pore volume. The total mesopore volume can be from about 4% toabout 35% of the total pore volume. The total macropore volume can befrom about 40% to about 95% of the total pore volume. By way of example,FIG. 3 shows a bar chart setting out examples of the pore volumes forsample biochars made from peach pits 201, juniper wood 202, a first hardwood 203, a second hard wood 204, fir and pine waste wood 205, a firstpine 206, a second pine 207, birch 208 and coconut shells 209.

As explained further below, treatment can increase usable pore volumesand, among other things, remove obstructions in the pores, which leadsto increased retention properties and promotes further performancecharacteristics of the biochar. Knowing the properties of the startingraw biochar, one can treat the biochar to produce controlled,predictable and optimal resulting physical and chemical properties.

B. Treatment

The rationale for treating the biochar after pyrolysis is that given thelarge internal pore volume and large interior surface area of thebiochars, it is most efficient to make significant changes in thephysical and chemical properties of the biochar by treating both theinternal and external surfaces and internal pore volume of the char.Testing has demonstrated that if the biochar is treated, at leastpartially, in a manner that causes the forced infusion and/or diffusionof liquids and/or vapors into and/or out of the biochar pores (throughmechanical, physical, or chemical means), certain properties of thebiochar can be altered or improved over and above simply contactingthese liquids with the biochar. By knowing the properties of the rawbiochar and the optimal desired properties of the treated biochar, theraw biochar can then be treated in a manner that results in the treatedbiochar having controlled optimized properties.

For purposes of this application, treating and/or washing the biochar inaccordance with the present invention involves more than simplycontacting, washing or soaking, which generally only impacts theexterior surfaces and a small percentage of the interior surface area.“Washing” or “treating” in accordance with the present invention, and asused below, involves treatment of the biochar in a manner that causesthe forced, accelerated or assisted infusion and/or diffusion ofliquids, vapors, and/or additivities into and/or out of the biocharpores (through mechanical, physical, biological, or chemical means) suchthat certain properties of the biochar can be altered or improved overand above simply contacting these liquids with the biochar or so thattreatment becomes more efficient or rapid from a time standpoint oversimple contact or immersion.

In particular, effective treatment processes can mitigate deleteriouspore surface properties, remove undesirable substances from poresurfaces or volume, and impact anywhere from between 10% to 99% or moreof pore surface area of a biochar particle. By modifying the usable poresurfaces through treatment and/or removing deleterious substances fromthe pore volume, the treated biochars can exhibit a greater capacity toretain water and/or other nutrients as well as being more suitablehabitats for some forms of microbial life. Through the use of treatedbiochars, agricultural applications can realize increased moisturecontrol, increased nutrient retention, reduced water usage, reducedwater requirements, reduced runoff or leaching, increased nutrientefficiency, reduced nutrient usage, increased yields, increased yieldswith lower water requirements and/or nutrient requirements, increases inbeneficial microbial life, improved performance and/or shelf life forinoculated bacteria, increased efficacy as a substrate for microbialgrowth or fermentation, and any combination and variation of these andother benefits.

Treatment further allows the biochar to be modified to possess certainknown properties that enhance the benefits received from the use ofbiochar. While the selection of feedstock, raw biochar and/or pyrolysisconditions under which the biochar was manufactured can make treatmentprocesses less cumbersome, more efficient and further controlled,treatment processes can be utilized that provide for the biochar to havedesired and generally sustainable resulting properties regardless of thebiochar source or pyrolysis conditions. As explained further below,treatment can (i) repurpose problematic biochars, (ii) handle changingbiochar material sources, e.g., seasonal and regional changes in thesource of biomass, (iii) provide for custom features and functions ofbiochar for particular soils, regions or agricultural purposes; (iv)increase the retention properties of biochar, (v) provide for largevolumes of biochar having desired and predictable properties, (vi)provide for biochar having custom properties, (vii) handle differencesin biochar caused by variations in pyrolysis conditions or manufacturingof the “raw” biochar; and (viii) address the majority, if not all, ofthe problems that have, prior to the present invention, stifled thelarge scale adoption and use of biochars.

Treatment can impact both the interior and exterior pore surfaces,remove harmful chemicals, introduce beneficial substances, and altercertain properties of the biochar and the pore surfaces and volumes.This is in stark contrast to simple washing, contact, or immersion whichgenerally only impacts the exterior surfaces and a small percentage ofthe interior surface area. Treatment can further be used to coatsubstantially all of the biochar pore surfaces with a surface modifyingagent or impregnate the pore volume with additives or treatment toprovide a predetermined feature to the biochar, e.g., surface charge andcharge density, surface species and distribution, targeted nutrientaddition, magnetic modifications, root growth facilitator, and waterabsorptivity and water retention properties. Just as importantly,treatment can also be used to remove undesirable substances from thebiochar, such as dioxins or other toxins either through physical removalor through chemical reactions causing neutralization. Furthermore,treatment can be used to adjust the size of the biochar particlesthemselves, as well as adjusting the distribution of particle sizes in aparticular mixture of biochar.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram of one example treatment process 400for use in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated, thetreatment process 400 starts with raw biochar 402 that may be subjectedto one or more reactors or treatment processes prior to bagging 420 thetreated biochar for resale. For example, 404 represents reactor 1, whichmay be used to treat the biochar. The treatment may be a simple waterwash or may be an acid wash used for the purpose of altering the pH ofthe raw biochar particles 402. The treatment may also contain asurfactant or detergent to aid the penetration of the treatment solutioninto the pores of the biochar. The treatment may optionally be heated,cooled, or may be used at ambient temperature or any combination of thethree. For some applications, depending upon the properties of the rawbiochar, a water and/or acid/alkaline wash 404 (the latter for pHadjustment) may be the only necessary treatment prior to bagging thebiochar 420. If, however, the moisture content of the biochar needs tobe adjusted, the treated biochar may then be put into a second reactor406 for purposes of reducing the moisture content in the washed biochar.From there, the treated and moisture adjusted biochar may be bagged 420.

Again, depending upon the starting characteristics of the raw biocharand the intended application for the resale product, further processingmay still be needed or desired. In this case, the treated moistureadjusted biochar may then be passed to a third reactor 408 forinoculation, which may include the impregnation of biochar withbeneficial additives, such as nutrients, bacteria, microbes, fertilizersor other additives. Thereafter, the inoculated biochar may be bagged420, or may be yet further processed, for example, in a fourth reactor410 to have further moisture removed from or added to the biochar.Further moisture adjustment may be accomplished by placing theinoculated biochar in a fourth moisture adjustment reactor 410 orcirculating the biochar back to a previous moisture adjustment reactor(e.g. reactor 406). Those skilled in the art will recognize that theordering in which the raw biochar is processed and certain processes maybe left out, depending on the properties of the starting raw biochar andthe desired application for the biochar. For example, the treatment andinoculation processes may be performed without the moisture adjustmentstep, inoculation processes may also be performed with or without anytreatment, pH adjustment or any moisture adjustment. All the processesmay be completed alone or in the conjunction with one or more of theothers. It should also be noted that microbes themselves may be part ofthe process, not simply as an inoculant, but as an agent to conveymaterials into or out of the pore volume of the biochar.

For example, FIG. 4a illustrates a schematic of one example of animplementation of biochar processing that includes washing the pores andboth pH and moisture adjustment. FIG. 4b illustrates yet another exampleof an implementation of biochar processing that includes inoculation.

As illustrated in FIG. 4a , raw biochar 402 is placed into a reactor ortank 404. A washing or treatment liquid 403 is then added to a tank anda partial vacuum, using a vacuum pump, 405 is pulled on the tank. Thetreating or washing liquid 403 may be used to clean or wash the pores ofthe biochar 402 or adjust the chemical or physical properties of thesurface area or pore volume, such as pH level, usable pore volume, orVOC content, among other things. The vacuum can be applied after thetreatment liquid 403 is added or while the treatment liquid 403 isadded. Thereafter, the washed/adjusted biochar 410 may be moistureadjusted by vacuum exfiltration 406 to pull the extra liquid from thewashed/moisture adjusted biochar 410 or may be placed in a centrifuge407, heated or subjected to pressure gradient changes (e.g., blowingair) for moisture adjustment. The moisture adjusted biochar 412 may thenbe bagged or subject to further treatment. Any excess liquids 415collected from the moisture adjustment step may be disposed of orrecycled, as desired. Optionally, biochar fines may be collected fromthe excess liquids 415 for further processing, for example, to create aslurry, cakes, or biochar extrudates. Furthermore, the process itselfmay be calibrated such that particles of various sizes follow differentpaths through the process. One skilled in the art will notice thathydrodynamic, aerodynamic, or other sorting of particles during theprocess can be integrated into any of the stages that involve flow ormovement of particles. It should be noted that in any of these steps,the residual gaseous environment in the tanks or centrifuges may beeither ambient air, or a prescribed gas or combination of gasses toimpact (through assistance or attenuation) reactivity during theprocess.

Optionally, rather than using a vacuum pump 405, a positive pressurepump may be used to apply positive pressure to the tank 404. In somesituations, applying positive pressure to the tank may also function toforce or accelerate the washing or treating liquid 403 into the pores ofthe biochar 402. Any change in pressure in the tank 404 or across thesurface of the biochar could facilitate the exchange of gas and/ormoisture into and out of the pores of the biochar with the washing ortreating liquid 403 in the tank. Accordingly, changing the pressure inthe tank and across the surface of the biochar, whether positive ornegative, is within the scope of this invention. The atmosphere of thetank may be air or other gaseous mixture, prior to the intuition of thepressure change.

As illustrated FIG. 4b , the washed/adjusted biochar 410 or thewashed/adjusted and moisture adjusted biochar 412 may be further treatedby inoculating or impregnating the pores of the biochar with an additive425. The biochar 410, 412 placed back in a reactor 401, an additivesolution 425 is placed in the reactor 401 and a vacuum, using a vacuumpump, 405 is applied to the tank. Again, the vacuum can be applied afterthe additive solution 425 is added to the tank or while the additivesolution 425 is being added to the tank. Thereafter, the washed,adjusted and inoculated biochar 428 can be bagged. Alternatively, iffurther moisture adjustment is required, the biochar can be furthermoisture adjusted by vacuum filtration 406 to pull the extra liquid fromthe washed/moisture adjusted biochar 410 or may be placed in acentrifuge 407 for moisture adjustment. The resulting biochar 430 canthen be bagged. Any excess liquids 415 collected from the moistureadjustment step may be disposed of or recycled, as desired. Optionally,biochar particulates or “fines” which easily are suspended in liquid maybe collected from the excess liquids 415 for further processing, forexample, to create a slurry, biochar extrudates, or merely a biocharproduct of a consistently smaller particle size. As described above,both processes of the FIGS. 4a and 4b can be performed with a surfactantsolution in place of, or in conjunction with, the vacuum 405.

While known processes exist for the above described processes, researchassociated with the present invention has shown improvement and theability to better control the properties and characteristics of thebiochar if the processes are performed through the infusion anddiffusion of liquids into and out of the biochar pores. One suchtreatment process that can be used is vacuum impregnation and vacuumand/or centrifuge extraction. Another such treatment process that can beused is the addition of a surfactant to infused liquid, which infusedliquid may be optionally heated, cooled, or used at ambient temperatureor any combination of the three.

Since research associated with the present invention has identified whatphysical and chemical properties have the highest impact on plant growthand/or soil health, the treatment process can be geared to treatdifferent forms of raw biochar to achieve treated biochar propertiesknown to enhance these characteristics. For example, if the pH of thebiochar needs to be adjusted to enhance the raw biochar performanceproperties, the treatment may be the infusion of an acid solution intothe pores of the biochar using vacuum, surfactant, or other treatmentmeans. This treatment of pore infusion through, for example, the rapid,forced infusion of liquid into and out the pores of the biochar, hasfurther been proven to sustain the adjusted pH levels of the treatedbiochar for much longer periods than biochar that is simply immersed inan acid solution for the same period of time. By way of another example,if the moisture content needs to be adjusted, then excess liquid andother selected substances (e.g. chlorides, dioxins, and other chemicals,to include those previously deposited by treatment to catalyze orotherwise react with substances on the interior or exterior surfaces ofthe biochar) can be extracted from the pores using vacuum and/orcentrifuge extraction or by using various heating techniques. The abovedescribes a few examples of treatment that result in treated biocharhaving desired performance properties identified to enhance soil healthand plant life or other applications.

FIG. 5 illustrates one example of a system 500 that utilizes vacuumimpregnation to treat raw biochar. Generally, raw biochar particles, andpreferably a batch of biochar particles, are placed in a reactor, whichis connected to a vacuum pump, and a source of treating liquid (i.e.water or acidic/basis solution). When the valve to the reactor isclosed, the pressure in the reactor is reduced to values ranging from750 Torr to 400 Torr to 10 Torr or less. The biochar is maintained undervacuum (“vacuum hold time”) for anywhere from seconds to 1 minute to 10minutes, to 100 minutes, or possibly longer. By way of example, forabout a 500 pound batch of untreated biochar, a vacuum hold time of fromabout 1 to about 5 minutes can be used if the reactor is of sufficientsize and sufficient infiltrate is available to adjust the necessaryproperties. While under the vacuum the treating liquid may then beintroduced into the vacuum chamber containing the biochar.Alternatively, the treating liquid may be introduced into the vacuumchamber before the biochar is placed under a vacuum. Optionally,treatment may also include subjecting the biochar to elevatedtemperatures from ambient to about 250° C. or reduced temperatures toabout −25° C. or below, with the limiting factor being the temperatureand time at which the infiltrate can remain flowable as a liquid orsemi-liquid.

The infiltrate or treating liquid is drawn into the biochar pore, andpreferably drawn into the macropores and mesopores. Depending upon thespecific doses applied and pore structure of the biochar, the infiltratecan coat anywhere from 10% to 50% to 100% of the total macropore andmesopore surface area and can fill or coat anywhere from a portion tonearly all (10%-100%) of the total macropore and mesopore volume.

As described above, the treating liquid can be left in the biochar, withthe batch being a treated biochar batch ready for packaging, shipmentand use in an agricultural or other application. The treating liquid mayalso be removed through drying, treatment with heated gases, subsequentvacuum processing, centrifugal force (e.g., cyclone drying machines orcentrifuges), dilution, or treatment with other liquids, with the batchbeing a treated biochar batch ready for packaging, shipment and use inan agricultural application. A second, third or more infiltration,removal, infiltration and removal, and combinations and variations ofthese may also be performed on the biochar with optional drying stepsbetween infiltrations to remove residual liquid from and reintroducegasses to the pore structure if needed. In any of these stages theliquid may contain organic or inorganic surfactants to assist with thepenetration of the treating liquid.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a system 500 for providing a biochar,preferably having predetermined and generally uniform properties. Thesystem 500 has a vacuum infiltration tank 501. The vacuum infiltrationtank 501 has an inlet line 503 that has a valve 504 that seals the inletline 503. In operation, the starting biochar is added to vacuuminfiltration tank 501 as shown by arrow 540. Once the tank is filledwith the starting biochar, a vacuum is applied to the tank, by a vacuumpump connected to vacuum line 506, which also has valve 507. Thestarting biochar is held in the vacuum for a vacuum hold time.Infiltrate, as shown by arrow 548 is added to the tank 501 by line 508having valve 509. The infiltrate is mixed with the biochar in the tank501 by agitator 502. The mixing process is done under vacuum for aperiod of time sufficient to have the infiltrate fill the desired amountof pore volume, e.g., up to 100% of the macropores and mesopores.

Alternatively, the infiltrate may be added to the vacuum infiltrationtank 501 before vacuum is pulled on the tank. Optionally, one or moreselected gasses may be added to the tank. In this manner, infiltrate isadded in the tank in an amount that can be impregnated into the biocharand optionally, the gasses introduced can also potentially impact thereactivity of the liquid as well as any organic or inorganic substanceson the surface or in the pore volume of the biochar. As the vacuum isapplied, the biochar is circulated in the tank to cause the infiltrateto fill the pore volume. To one skilled in the art, it should be clearthat the agitation of the biochar during this process can be performedthrough various means, such as a rotating tank, rotating agitator,pressure variation in the tank itself, or other means. Additionally, thebiochar may be dried using conventional means before even the firsttreatment. This optional pre-drying can remove liquid from the pores andin some situations may increase the efficiency of impregnation due topressure changes in the tank.

Pressure is then restored in the tank 501 with either ambient air or aprescribed selection of gasses, and the infiltrated biochar is removed,as shown by arrow 541, from the tank 501 to bin 512, by way of a sealinggate 511 and removal line 510. The infiltrated biochar is collected inbin 512, where it can be further processed in several different ways.The infiltrated biochar can be shipped for use as a treated biochar asshown by arrow 543. The infiltrated biochar can be returned to the tank501 (or a second infiltration tank). If returned to the tank 501 thebiochar can be processed with a second infiltration step, a vacuumdrying step, a washing step, or combinations and variations of these.The infiltrated biochar can be moved by conveyor 514, as shown by arrow542, to a drying apparatus 516, e.g., a centrifugal dryer or heater,where water, infiltrate or other liquid is removed by way of line 517,and the dried biochar leaves the dryer through discharge line 518 asshown by arrow 545, and is collected in bin 519. The biochar is removedfrom the bin by discharge 520. The biochar may be shipped as a treatedbiochar for use in an agriculture application, as shown by arrow 547.The biochar may also be further processed, as shown by 546. Thus, thebiochar could be returned to tank 501 (or a second vacuum infiltrationtank) for a further infiltration step. The drying step may be repeatedeither by returning the dry biochar to the drying apparatus 516, or byrunning the biochar through a series of drying apparatus, until thepredetermined dryness of the biochar is obtained, e.g., between 50% toless than 1% moisture.

The system 500 is illustrative of the system, equipment and processesthat can be used for, and to carry out the present inventions. Variousother implementations and types of equipment can be used. The vacuuminfiltration tank can be a sealable off-axis rotating vessel, chamber ortank. It can have an internal agitator that also when reversed can movematerial out, empty it, (e.g., a vessel along the lines of a largecement truck, or ready mix truck, that can mix and move material out ofthe tank, without requiring the tank's orientation to be changed).Washing equipment may be added or utilized at various points in theprocess, or may be carried out in the vacuum tank, or drier, (e.g., washfluid added to biochar as it is placed into the drier for removal).Other steps, such as bagging, weighing, the mixing of the biochar withother materials, e.g., fertilized, peat, soil, etc. can be carried out.In all areas of the system referring to vacuum infiltration, optionallypositive pressure can be applied, if needed, to enhance the penetrationof the infiltrate or to assist with re-infusion of gaseous vapors intothe treated char. Additionally, where feasible, especially in positivepressure environments, the infiltrate may have soluble gasses addedwhich then can assist with removal of liquid from the pores, or gaseoustreatment of the pores upon equalization of pressure.

As noted above, the biochar may also be treated using a surfactant. Thesame or similar equipment used in the vacuum infiltration process can beused in the surfactant treatment process. Although it is not necessaryto apply a vacuum in the surfactant treatment process, the vacuuminfiltration tank or any other rotating vessel, chamber or tank can beused. In the surfactant treatment process, a surfactant, such as yuccaextract, is added to the infiltrate, e.g., acid wash or water. Thequantity of the surfactant added to the infiltrate may vary dependingupon the surfactant used. For example, organic yucca extract can beadded at a rate of between 0.1-20%, but more preferably 1-5% by volumeof the infiltrate. The infiltrate with surfactant is then mixed with thebiochar in a tumbler for several minutes, e.g., 3-5 minutes, withoutapplied vacuum. Optionally, a vacuum or positive pressure may be appliedwith the surfactant to improve efficiency and penetration, but is notstrictly necessary. Additionally, infiltrate to which the surfactant ordetergent is added may be heated or may be ambient temperature or less.Similarly, the mixture of the surfactant or detergent, as well as thechar being treated may be heated, or may be ambient temperature, orless. After tumbling, excess free liquid can be removed in the samemanner as described above in connection with the vacuum infiltrationprocess. Drying, also as described above in connection with the vacuuminfiltration process, is an optional additional step. Besides yuccaextract, a number of other surfactants may be used for surfactanttreatment, which include, but are not limited to, the following:nonionic types, such as, ethoxylated alcohols, phenols-lauryl alcoholethoxylates, Fatty acid esters-sorbitan, tween 20, amines,amides-imidazoles; anionic types, such as sulfonates-arylalkylsulfonates and sulfate-sodium dodecyl sulfate; cationic types, such asalkyl-amines or ammoniums-quaternary ammoniums; and amphoteric types,such as betaines-cocamidopropyl betaine. Additionally biosurfactants, ormicrobes which produce biosurfactants such as Flavobacterium sp. mayalso be used.

Optionally, the biochar may also be treated by applying ultrasonics. Inthis treatment process, the biochar may be contacted with a treatingliquid that is agitated by ultrasonic waves. By agitating the treatingliquid, contaminants may be dislodged or removed from the biochar due tobulk motion of the fluid in and around the biocarbon, pressure changes,including cavitation in and around contaminants on the surface, as wellas pressure changes in or near pore openings (cavitation bubbles) andinternal pore cavitation.

In this manner, agitation will cause contaminants of many forms to bereleased from the internal and external structure of the biochar. Theagitation also encourages the exchange of water, gas, and other liquidswith the internal biochar structure. Contaminants are transported fromthe internal structure to the bulk liquid (treating fluid) resulting inbiochar with improved physical and chemical properties. Theeffectiveness of ultrasonic cleaning is tunable as bubble size andnumber is a function of frequency and power delivered by the transducerto the treating fluid

In one example, applying ultrasonic treatment, raw wood based biocharbetween 10 microns to 10 mm with moisture content from 0% to 90% may bemixed with a dilute mixture of acid and water (together the treatingliquid) in a processing vessel that also translates the slurry (thebiochar/treating liquid mixture). During translation, the slurry passesnear an ultrasonic transducer to enhance the interaction between thefluid and biochar. The biochar may experience one or multiple washes ofdilute acid, water, or other treating fluids. The biochar may also makemultiple passes by ultrasonic transducers to enhance physical andchemical properties of the biochar. For example, once a large volume ofslurry is made, it can continuously pass an ultrasonic device and bedegassed and wetted to its maximum, at a rapid processing rate. Theslurry can also undergo a separation process in which the fluid andsolid biochar are separated at 60% effectiveness or greater.

Through ultrasonic treatment, the pH of the biochar, or other physicaland chemical properties may be adjusted and the mesopore and macroporesurfaces of the biochar may be cleaned and enhanced. Further, ultrasonictreatment can be used in combination with bulk mixing with water,solvents, additives (fertilizers, etc.), and other liquid basedchemicals to enhance the properties of the biochar. After treatment, thebiochar may be subject to moisture adjustment, further treatment and/orinoculation using any of the methods set forth above. In certainapplications, ultrasonic technology may also be used to modify (usuallyreduce) the size of the biochar particles while retaining much, most, ornearly all of the porosity and pore structure. This yields smaller sizeparticles with different morphologies than other methods of sizing suchas grinding, crushing, sieving, or shaking.

C. Impact of Treatment

As illustrated above, the treatment process, whether using pressurechanges (e.g. vacuum), surfactant or ultrasonic treatment, or acombination thereof, may include two steps, which in certainapplications, may be combined: (i) washing and (ii) inoculation of thepores with an additive. When the desired additive is the same and thatbeing inoculated into the pores, e.g., water, the step of washing thepores and inoculating the pores with an additive may be combined.

While not exclusive, washing is generally done for one of threepurposes: (i) to modify the surface of the pore structure of the biochar(i.e., to allow for increased retention of liquids); (ii) to modify thepH of the biochar; and/or (iii) to remove undesired and potentiallyharmful compounds or gases.

Testing has further demonstrated that if the biochar is treated, atleast partially, in a manner that causes the infusion and/or effusion ofliquids and/or vapors into and/or out of the biochar pores (throughmechanical, physical, biological, or chemical means), certain beneficialproperties of the biochar can be altered, enhanced or improved throughtreatment. By knowing the properties of the raw biochar and the optimaldesired properties of the treated biochar, the raw biochar can then betreated in a manner that results in the treated biochar havingcontrolled optimized properties and greater levels of consistencybetween batches as well as between treated biochars arising from variousfeedstocks.

Using the treatment processes described above, or other treatments thatprovide, in part, for the infusion and/or effusion of liquids and/orvapors into and/or out of the biochar pores, biochars can have improvedphysical and chemical properties over raw biochar.

1. Water Holding/Retention Capacity

As demonstrated below, the treatment processes of the invention modifythe surfaces of the pore structure to provide enhanced functionality andto control the properties of the biochar to achieve consistent andpredicable performance. Using the above treatment processes, anywherefrom at least 10% of the total pore surface area up to 90% or more ofthe total pore surface area may be modified. In some implementations, itmay be possible to achieve modification of up to 99% or more of thetotal pore surface area of the biochar particle. Using the processes setforth above, such modification may be substantially and uniformlyachieved for an entire batch of treated biochar.

For example, it is believed that by treating the biochar as set forthabove, the hydrophilicity of the surface of the pores of the biochar ismodified, allowing for a greater water retention capacity, as well as,perhaps more importantly, more effective association of water lovingbiology (such as plant root tissue and other microbial life) with thematerial. Further, by treating the biochars as set forth above, gasesand other substances are also removed from the pores of the biocharparticles, also contributing to the biochar particles' increased waterholding capacity. Thus, the ability of the biochar to retain liquids,whether water or additives in solution, is increased, which alsoincreases the ability to load the biochar particles with large volumesof inoculant, infiltrates and/or additives.

A batch of biochar has a bulk density, which is defined as weight ingrams (g) per cm³ of loosely poured material that has or retains somefree space between the particles. The biochar particles in this batchwill also have a solid density, which is the weight in grams (g) per cm³of just particles, i.e., with the free space between the particlesremoved. The solid density includes the air space or free space that iscontained within the pores, but not the free space between particles.The actual density of the particles is the density of the material ingrams (g) per cm³ of material, which makes up the biochar particles,i.e., the solid material with pore volume removed.

In general, as bulk density increases the pore volume would be expectedto decrease and, if the pore volume is macro or mesoporous, with it, theability of the material to hold infiltrate, e.g., inoculant. Thus, withthe infiltration processes, the treated biochars can have impregnationcapacities that are larger than could be obtained without infiltration,e.g., the treated biochars can readily have 10%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or mostpreferably, 60%-100% of their total pore volume filled with aninfiltrate, e.g., an inoculant. The impregnation capacity is the amountof a liquid that a biochar particle, or batch of particles, can absorb.The ability to make the pores surface hydrophilic, and to infuse liquiddeep into the pore structure through the application of positive ornegative pressure and/or a surfactant, alone or in combination, providesthe ability to obtain these high impregnation capabilities. The treatedbiochars can have impregnation capacities, i.e., the amount ofinfiltrate that a particle can hold on a volume held/total volume of aparticle basis, that is greater than 0.2 cm³/cm³ to 0.8 cm³/cm³.

Accordingly, by using the treatment above, the water retention capacityof biochar can be greatly increased over the water retention capacitiesof various soil types and even raw biochar, thereby holding water and/ornutrients in the plant's root zone longer and ultimately reducing theamount of applied water (through irrigation, rainfall, or other means)needed by up to 50% or more. FIG. 6 has two charts showing the waterretention capacities of planting substrates versus when mixed with rawand treated biochar. In this example, the raw and treated biochar arederived from coconut biomass. The soils sampled are loam and sandy claysoil and a common commercial horticultural peat and perlite soillesspotting mix. The charts show the retained water as a function of time.

In chart A of FIG. 6, the bottom line represents the retained water inthe sandy claim loam soil over time. The middle line represents theretained water in the sandy clay soil with 20% by volume percent ofunprocessed raw biochar. The top line represents the retained water inthe sandy clay loam soil with 20% by volume percent of treated biochar(adjusted and inoculated biochar). Chart B of FIG. 6 represents the sameusing peat and perlite soilless potting mix rather than sandy clay loamsoil.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 the treated biochar has an increased waterretention capacity over raw biochar of approximately 1.5 times the rawbiochar. Similarly, testing of treated biochar derived from pine havealso shown an approximate 1.5 times increase in water retention capacityover raw biochar. With certain biochar, the water retention capacity oftreated biochar could be as great as three time that of raw biochar.

“Water holding capacity,” which may also be referred to as “WaterRetention Capacity,” is the amount of water that can be held bothinternally within the porous structure and in the interparticle voidspaces in a given batch of particles. While a summary of the method ofmeasure is provided above, a more specific method of measuring waterholding capacity/water retention capacity is measured by the followingprocedure: (i) drying a sample of material under temperatures of 105° C.for a period of 24 hours or using another scientifically acceptabletechnique to reduce the moisture content of the material to less than2%, less than 1%; and preferably less than 0.5% (ii) placing a measuredamount of dry material in a container; (iii) filling the containerhaving the measured amount of material with water such that the materialis completely immersed in the water; (iv) letting the water remain inthe container having the measured amount of material for at least tenminutes or treating the material in accordance with the invention byinfusing with water when the material is a treated biochar; (v) drainingthe water from the container until the water ceases to drain; (vi)weighing the material in the container (i.e., wet weight); (vii) againdrying the material by heating it under temperatures of 105° C. for aperiod of 24 hours or using another scientifically acceptable techniqueto reduce the moisture content of the material to less than 2% andpreferably less than 1%; and (viii) weighing the dry material again(i.e., dry weight) and, for purposes of a volumetric measure,determining the volume of the material.

Measured gravimetrically, the water holding/water retention capacity isdetermined by measuring the difference in weight of the material fromstep (vi) to step (viii) over the weight of the material from step(viii) (i.e., wet weight-dry weight/dry weight). FIG. 7 illustrates thedifferent water retention capacities of raw biochar versus treatedbiochar measured gravimetrically. As illustrated, water retentioncapacity of raw biochar can be less than 200%, whereas treated biocharcan have water retention capacities measured gravimetrically greaterthan 100%, and preferably between 200 and 400%.

Water holding capacity can also be measured volumetrically andrepresented as a percent of the volume of water retained in the biocharafter gravitationally draining the excess water/volume of biochar Thevolume of water retained in the biochar after draining the water can bedetermined from the difference between the water added to the containerand water drained off the container or from the difference in the weightof the wet biochar from the weight of the dry biochar converted to avolumetric measurement. This percentage water holding capacity fortreated biochar may be 30% and above by volume, and preferably 50-55percent and above by volume.

Given biochar's increased water retention capacity, the application ofthe treated biochar and even the raw biochar can greatly assist with thereduction of water and/or nutrient application. It has been discoveredthat these same benefits can be imparted to agricultural growth.

2. Plant Available Water

As illustrated in FIG. 8, plant available water is greatly increased intreated biochar over that of raw biochar. FIG. 8 illustrates the plantavailable water in raw biochar, versus treated biochar and treated driedbiochar and illustrates that treated biochar can have a plant availablewater percent of greater than 35% by volume.

“Plant Available Water” is the amount of unbound water in the materialavailable for plants to uptake. This is calculated by subtracting thewater content at permanent wilting point from the water content at fieldcapacity, which is the point when no water is available for the plants.Field capacity is generally expressed as the bulk water content retainedat −33 J/kg (or −0.33 bar) of hydraulic head or suction pressure.Permanent wilting point is generally expressed as the bulk water contentretained at −1500 J/kg (or −15.0 bar) of hydraulic head or suctionpressure. Methods for measuring plant available water are well-known inthe industry and use pressure plate extractor, which are commerciallyavailable or can be built using well-known principles of operation.

3. Remaining Water Content

Treated biochar of the present invention has also demonstrated theability to retain more water than raw biochar after exposure to theenvironment for defined periods of time. For purposes of thisapplication “remaining water content” can be defined as the total amountof water that remains held by the biochar after exposure to theenvironment for certain amount of time. Exposure to environment isexposure at ambient temperature and pressures. Under this definition,remaining water content can be may be measured by (i) creating a sampleof biochar that has reached its maximum water holding capacity; (ii)determining the total water content by thermogravimetric analysis (H2O(TGA)), as described above on a sample removed from the output of step(i) above, (iii) exposing the biochar in the remaining sample to theenvironment for a period of 2 weeks (15 days, 360 hrs.); (iv)determining the remaining water content by thermogravimetric analysis(H2O (TGA)); and (v) normalizing the remaining (retained) water in mL to1 kg or 1 L biochar. The percentage of water remaining after exposurefor this two-week period can be calculated by the remaining watercontent of the biochar after the predetermine period over the watercontent of the biochar at the commencement of the two-week period. Usingthis test, treated biochar has shown to retain water at rates over 4×that of raw biochar. Testing has further demonstrated that the followingamount of water can remain in treated biochar after two weeks ofexposure to the environment: 100-650 mL/kg; 45-150 mL/L; 12-30 gal/ton;3-10 gal/yd3 after 360 hours (15 days) of exposure to the environment.In this manner, and as illustrated in FIG. 12, biochar treated throughvacuum impregnation can increase the amount of retained water in biocharabout 3× compared to other methods even after seven weeks. In general,the more porous and the higher the surface area of a given material, thehigher the water retention capacity. Further, it is theorized that bymodifying the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the pore surfaces,greater water holding capacity and controlled release may be obtained.Thus, viewed as a weight percent, e.g., the weight of retained water toweight of biochar, examples of the present biochars can retain more than5% of their weight, more than 10% of their weight, and more than 15% oftheir weight, and more compared to an average soil which may retain 2%or less, or between 100-600 ml/kg by weight of biochar

Tests have also shown that treated biochars that show weight loss of >1%in the interval between 43-60° C. when analyzed by the ThermalGravimetric Analysis (TGA) (as described below) demonstrate greaterwater holding and content capacities over raw biochars. Weight lossof >5%-15% in the interval between 38-68° C. when analyzed by theThermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) using sequences of time andtemperature disclosed in the following paragraphs or others may also berealized. Weight percentage ranges may vary from between >1%-15% intemperature ranges between 38-68° C., or subsets thereof, to distinguishbetween treated biochar and raw biochar.

FIG. 9 is a chart 900 showing the weight loss of treated biochars 902verses raw biochar samples 904 when heated at varying temperatures usingthe TGA testing described below. As illustrated, the treated biochars902 continue to exhibit weight loss when heated between 40-60° C. whenanalyzed by the Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) (described below),whereas the weight loss in raw biochar 904 between the same temperatureranges levels off. Thus, testing demonstrates the presence of additionalmoisture content in treated biochars 902 versus raw biochars 904.

In particular, the treated biochars 902 exhibit substantial water losswhen heated in inert gas such as nitrogen. More particularly, whenheated for 25 minutes at each of the following temperatures 20, 30, 40,50 and 60 degrees Celsius, ° C. the treated samples lose about 5-% to15% in the interval 43-60° C. and upward of 20-30% in the intervalbetween 38-68° C. The samples to determine the water content of the rawbiochar were obtained by mixing a measured amount of biochar and water,stirring the biochar and water for 2 minutes, draining off the water,measuring moisture content and then subjecting the sample to TGA. Thesamples for the treated biochar were obtained by using the same measuredamount of biochar as used in the raw biochar sample, and impregnatingthe biochar under vacuum. Similar results are expected with biochartreated with a treatment process consistent with those described in thisdisclosure with the same amount of water as used with the raw biochar.The moisture content is then measured and the sample is subjected to TGAdescribed above.

The sequences of time and temperature conditions for evaluating theeffect of biochars heating in inert atmosphere is defined in thisapplication as the “Bontchev-Cheyne Test” (“BCT”). The BCT is run usingsamples obtained, as described above, and applying Thermal GravimetricAnalysis (TGA) carried out using a Hitachi STA 7200 analyzer undernitrogen flow at the rate of 110 mL/min. The biochar samples are heatedfor 25 minutes at each of the following temperatures: 20, 30, 40, 50 and60° C. The sample weights are measured at the end of each dwell step, atthe beginning and at the end of the experiment. The analyzer alsocontinually measures and records weight over time. Biochars havingenhanced water holding or retention capacities are those that exhibitweight loss of >5% in the interval between 38-68° C., >1% in theinterval between 43-60° C. Biochars with greater water holding orretention capacities can exhibit >5% weight loss in the interval between43-60° C. measured using the above described BCT.

4. Bulk Density

Because of the high porosity/pore volume of typical biochars, thistechnique of leaving water, oils, other liquids, or even driving othersolids or gasses into the pores of biochar can be used to adjust thedensity of the material—specifically adding liquid or solids to raisethe density, and using gasses or less dense liquids to lower thedensity. This ability to adjust the density of the material by loadingthe pores with liquid can be highly useful in matching the density ofthe material with the density of a suspension fluid—allowing for muchgreater uniformity in suspension of the material, over much longerperiods of time. One skilled in the art will realize that the both thedensity of the material being infused into the pores as well as thedepth or percentage of biochar pore volume infused can be adjusted withthese processes to produce a treated biochar with a particular range ofparticle density and also bulk density.

A batch of biochar has a bulk density, which is defined as weight ingrams (g) of 1 cm³ of loosely poured material that has or retains somefree space between the particles. The biochar particles in this batchwill also have a solid density, which is the weight in grams (g) of 1cm³ of just particles, i.e., with the free space between the particlesremoved. The solid density includes the air space or free space that iscontained within the pores, but not the free space between particles.The actual density of the particles is be the density of the material ingrams (g) of 1 cm³ of material, which makes up the biochar particles,i.e., the particle material with pore volume removed.

In general, as bulk density increases the pore volume would be expectedto decrease and with it, the ability to hold infiltrate, e.g.,inoculant. Thus, with the infiltration processes, the treated biocharscan have impregnation capacities that are larger than could be obtainedwithout infiltration, e.g., the treated biochars can readily have 30%,40%, 50%, or most preferably, 60%-100% of their total pore volume filledwith an infiltrate, e.g., an inoculant. The impregnation capacity is theamount of a liquid that a biochar particle, or batch of particles, canabsorb. The ability to make the pore morphology hydrophilic, and toinfuse liquid deep into the pore structure through the application ofpositive or negative pressure and/or a surfactant, alone or incombination, provides the ability to obtain these high impregnationcapabilities. The treated biochars can have impregnation capacities,i.e., the amount of infiltrate that a particle can hold on a volumeheld/total volume of a particle basis that is greater than 0.2 cm3/cm3to 0.8 cm3/cm3.

Resulting bulk densities of treated biochar can range from 0.1-0.6 g/cm³and sometimes preferably between 0.3-0.6 g/cm³ and can have soliddensities ranging from 0.2-1.2 g/cm³.

5. Hydrophilicity/Hydrophobicity

The ability to control the hydrophilicity of the pores provides theability to load the biochar particles with larger volumes of inoculant.The more hydrophilic the more the biochars can accept inoculant orinfiltrate. Test show that biochar treated in accordance with the aboveprocesses, using either vacuum or surfactant treatment processesincrease the hydrophilicity of raw biochar. Two tests may be used totest the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of biochar: (i) the Molarity ofEthanol Drop (“MED”) Test; and (ii) the Infiltrometer Test.

The MED test was originally developed by Doerr in 1998 and latermodified by other researchers for various materials. The MED test is atimed penetration test that is noted to work well with biochar soilmixtures. For 100% biochar, penetration time of different mixtures ofethanol/water are noted to work better. Ethanol/Water mixtures versessurface tension dynes were correlated to determine whether treatedbiochar has increased hydrophilicity over raw biochar. Seven mixtures ofethanol and deionized water were used with a sorption time of 3 secondson the biochar.

Seven solutions of deionized (“DI”) water with the following respectivepercentages of ethanol: 3, 5, 11, 13, 18, 24 and 36, were made fortesting. The test starts with a mixture having no DI. If the solution issoaked into the biochar in 3 seconds for the respective solution, itreceives the corresponding Hydrophobicity Index value below.

Hydrophobicity Ethanol % Index  0: DI Water 0 Very Hydrophilic  3% 1  5%2 11% 3 13% 4 18% 5 34% 6 36% 7 Strongly Hydrophobic

To start the test the biochar (“material/substrate”) is placed inconvenient open container prepared for testing. Typically, materials tobe tested are dried 110° C. overnight and cooled to room temperature.The test starts with a deionized water solution having no ethanol.Multiple drips of the solution are then laid onto the substrate surfacefrom low height. If drops soak in less than 3 seconds, test recordssubstrate as “0”. If drops take longer than 3 seconds or don't soak in,go to test solution 1. Then, using test solution 1, multiple drops fromdropper are laid onto the surface from low height. If drops soak intothe substrate in less than 3 seconds, test records material as “1”. Ifdrops take longer than 3 seconds, or don't soak in, go to test solution2. Then, using test solution 2, multiple drops from dropper laid ontothe surface from low height. If drops soak into the substrate in lessthan 3 seconds, test records material as “2”. If drops take longer than3 seconds, or don't soak in, go to test solution 3. Then, using testsolution 3, multiple drops from dropper laid onto the surface from lowheight. If drops soak into the substrate in less than 3 seconds, testrecords material as “3”. If drops take longer than 3 seconds, or don'tsoak in, go to solution 4.

The process above is repeated, testing progressively higher numbered MEDsolutions until the tester finds the solution that soaks into thesubstrate in 3 seconds or less. The substrate is recorded as having thathydrophobicity index number that correlates to the solution numberassigned to it (as set forth in the chart above).

Example test results using the MED test method is illustrated below.

HYDROPHOBICITY MATERIAL INDEX Raw Pine Biochars 3 to 5 SurfactantTreated Pine Biochar 1 Dried Raw Coconut Biochar 3 Dried Vacuum TreatedCoconut Biochar 3 Dried Surfactant Treated Coconut Biochar 1

Another way to measure and confirm that treatment decreaseshydrophobicity and increases hydrophilicity is by using a mini diskinfiltrometer. For this test procedure, the bubble chamber of theinfiltrometer is filled three quarters full with tap water for bothwater and ethanol sorptivity tests. Deionized or distilled water is notused. Once the upper chamber is full, the infiltrometer is inverted andthe water reservoir on the reserve is filled with 80 mL. Theinfiltrometer is carefully set on the position of the end of themariotte tube with respect to the porous disk to ensure a zero suctionoffset while the tube bubbles. If this dimension is changedaccidentally, the end of the mariotte tube should be reset to 6 mm fromthe end of the plastic water reservoir tube. The bottom elastomer isthen replaced, making sure the porous disk is firmly in place. If theinfiltrometer is held vertically using a stand and clamp, no watershould leak out.

The suction rate of 1 cm is set for all samples. If the surface of thesample is not smooth, a thin layer of fine biochar can be applied to thearea directly underneath the infiltrometer stainless steel disk. Thisensures good contact between the samples and the infiltrometer. Readingsare then taken at 1 min intervals for both water and ethanol sorptivitytest. To be accurate, 20 mL water or 95% ethanol needs to be infiltratedinto the samples. Record time and water/ethanol volumes at the times arerecorded.

The data is then processed to determine the results. The data isprocessed by the input of the volume levels and time to thecorresponding volume column. The following equation is used to calculatethe hydrophobicity index of R

$I = {{at} + {b\sqrt{t}}}$ a:  Infiltration  Rate, cm/sb:  Sorptivity, cm/s^(1/2) $R = {1.95*\frac{b_{ethanol}}{b_{water}}}$

Based upon the testing above, it can be demonstrated, based uponhydrophobicity tests performed on raw biochar, vacuum treated biocharand surfactant treated biochar that both the vacuum treated andsurfactant treated biochar are more hydrophilic than the raw biocharbased upon the lower Index rating. In accordance with the test data,hydrophobicity of raw biochar can be reduced 23% by vacuum processingand 46% by surfactant addition.

As an example, raw biochar and treated biochar were tested with ethanoland water, five times for each. The results below on a coconut basedbiochar show that the hydrophobicity index of the treated biochar islower than the raw biochar. Thus, tests demonstrate that treating thebiochar, using the methods set forth above, make the biochar lesshydrophobic and more hydrophilic.

HYDROPHOBICITY MATERIAL INDEX Dried Raw Biochar 12.9 Dried VacuumTreated Biochar 10.4 Dried Surfactant Treated Biochar 7.0 As Is RawBiochar 5.8 As Is Vacuum Treated Biochar 2.9

Further, through the treatment processes of the present invention, thebiochar can also be infused with soil enhancing agents. By infusingliquid into the pore structure through the application of positive ornegative pressure and/or a surfactant, alone or in combination, providesthe ability to impregnate the macropores of the biochar with soilenhancing solutions and solids. The soil enhancing agent may include,but not be limited to, any of the following: water, water solutions ofsalts, inorganic and organic liquids of different polarities, liquidorganic compounds or combinations of organic compounds and solvents,mineral and organic oils, slurries and suspensions, supercriticalliquids, fertilizers, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, free-livingand nodule-forming nitrogen fixing bacteria, organic decomposers,nitrifying bacteria, phosphate solubilizing bacteria, biocontrol agents,bioremediation agents, saprotrophic fungi, ectomycorrhizae andendomycorrhizae, among others.

D. Impregnation and/or Inoculation with Infiltrates or Additives

In addition to mitigating or removing deleterious pore surfaceproperties, by treating the pores of the biochar through a forced,assisted, accelerate or rapid infiltration process, such as thosedescribed above, the pore surface properties of the biochar can beenhanced. Such treatment processes may also permit subsequentprocessing, may modify the pore surface to provide predeterminedproperties to the biochar, and/or provide combinations and variations ofthese effects. For example, it may be desirable or otherwiseadvantageous to coat substantially all, or all of the biochar macroporeand mesopore surfaces with a surface modifying agent or treatment toprovide a predetermined feature to the biochar, e.g., surface charge andcharge density, surface species and distribution, targeted nutrientaddition, magnetic modifications, root growth facilitator, and waterabsorptivity and water retention properties.

By infusing liquids into the pores of biochar, it has been discoveredthat additives infused within the pores of the biochar provide a timerelease effect or steady flow of some beneficial substances to the rootzones of the plants and also can improve and provide a more beneficialenvironment for microbes which may reside or take up residence withinthe pores of the biochar. In particular, additive infused biocharsplaced in the soil prior to or after planting can dramatically reducethe need for high frequency application of additives, minimize lossescaused by leaching and runoff and/or reduce or eliminate the need forcontrolled release fertilizers. They can also be exceptionallybeneficial in animal feed applications by providing an effectivedelivery mechanism for beneficial nutrients, pharmaceuticals, enzymes,microbes, or other substances.

For purposes of this application, “infusion” of a liquid or liquidsolution into the pores of the biochar means the introduction of theliquid or liquid solution into the pores of the biochar by a means otherthan solely contacting the liquid or solution with the biochar, e.g.,submersion. The infusion process, as described in this application inconnection with the present invention, includes a mechanical, chemicalor physical process that facilitates or assist with the penetration ofliquid or solution into the pores of the biochar, which process mayinclude, but not be limited to, positive and negative pressure changes,such as vacuum infusion, surfactant infusion, or infusion by movement ofthe liquid and/or biochar (e.g., centrifugal force, steam and/orultrasonic waves) or other method that facilitates, assists, forces oraccelerates the liquid or solution into the pores of the biochar. Priorto infusing the biochar, the biochar, as described in detail above, maybe washed and/or moisture adjusted.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram 1000 of one example of a method for infusingbiochar with an additive. Optionally, the biochar may first be washed ortreated at step 1002, the wash may adjust the pH of the biochar, asdescribed in more detail above, or may be used to remove elemental ashand other harmful organics that may be unsuitable for the desiredinfused fertilizer. Optionally, the moisture content of the biochar maythen be adjusted by drying the biochar at step 1004, also as describedin further detail above, prior to infusion of the additive or inoculantat step 1006.

In summary, the infusion process may be performed with or without anywashing, prior pH adjustment or moisture content adjustment. Optionally,the infusion process may be performed with the wash and/or the moistureadjustment step. All the processes may be completed alone or in theconjunction with one or more of the others.

Through the above process of infusing the additive into the pores of thebiochar, the pores of the biochar may be filled by 25%, up to 100%, withan additive solution, as compared to 1-20% when the biochar is onlysubmerged in the solution or washed with the solution for a period ofless than twelve hours. Higher percentages may be achieved by washingand/or drying the pores of the biochar prior to infusion.

Data have been gathered from research conducted comparing the results ofsoaking or immersion of biochar in liquid versus vacuum impregnation ofliquid into biochar. These data support the conclusion that vacuumimpregnation provides greater benefits than simple soaking and resultsin a higher percentage volume of moisture on the surface, interstitiallyand in the pores of the biochar.

In one experiment, equal quantities of pine biochar were mixed withequal quantities of water, the first in a beaker, the second in a vacuumflask. The mixture in the beaker was continuously stirred for up to 24hours, then samples of the suspended solid were taken, drained andanalyzed for moisture content. The mixture in the vacuum flask wasconnected to a vacuum pump and negative pressure of 15″ was applied.Samples of the treated solid were taken, drained and analyzed formoisture content. FIG. 11 is a chart illustrating the results of theexperiment. The lower graph 1102 of the chart, which shows the resultsof soaking over time, shows a wt. % of water of approximately 52%. Theupper graph 1104 of the chart, which shows the results of vacuumimpregnation over time, shows a wt. % of water of approximately 72%.

FIGS. 12a and 12b show two charts that further illustrate that the totalwater and/or any other liquid content in processed biochar can besignificantly increased using vacuum impregnation instead of soaking.FIG. 12a compares the mL of total water or other liquid by retained by 1mL of treated pine biochar. The graph 1202 shows that approximately 0.17mL of water or other liquid are retained through soaking, while thegraph 1204 shows that approximately 0.42 mL of water or other liquid areretained as a result of vacuum impregnation. FIG. 12b shows that theretained water of pine biochar subjected to soaking consists entirely ofsurface and interstitial water 1206, while the retained water of pinebiochar subjected to vacuum impregnation consists not only of surfaceand interstitial water 1208 a, but also water impregnated in the poresof the biochar 1208 b.

In addition, as illustrated by FIG. 13, the amount of moisture contentimpregnated into the pores of vacuum processed biochars by varying theapplied (negative) pressure during the treatment process. The graphs offour different biochars all show how the liquid content of the pours ofeach of them increase to 100% as vacuum reactor pressure is increased.

In another experiment, the percentage of water retained in the pores ofpine derived biochar was measured to determine the difference inretained water in the pores of the biochar (i) soaked in water, and (ii)mixed with water subjected to a partial vacuum. For the soaking, 250 mLof raw biochar was mixed with 500 mL water in a beaker. Upon continuousstirring for 24 hrs., aliquots of the suspended solid were taken,drained on a paper towel and analyzed for moisture content. For thevacuum, 250 mL of raw biochar was mixed with 500 mL water in a vacuumflask. The flask was connected to a vacuum pump and negative pressure of15″ has been applied, aliquots of the treated solid were taken, drainedon a paper towel and analyzed for moisture content.

The total retained water amounts were measured for each sample. For thesoaked biochar, the moisture content of biochar remains virtuallyconstant for the entire duration of the experiment, 52 wt. % (i.e. 1 gof “soaked biochar” contains 0.52 g water and 0.48 g “dry biochar”).Taking into account the density of raw biochar, 0.16 g/cm³ (or mL), thevolume of the 0.48 g “dry biochar” is 3.00 mL (i.e. 3 mL dry biochar can“soak” and retain 0.52 mL water, or 1 mL dry biochar can retain 0.17 mLwater (sorbed on the surface and into the pores)).

For vacuum, the moisture content of the biochar remains virtuallyconstant for the entire duration of the experiment, 72 wt. %, (i.e. 1 gof vacuum impregnated biochar contains 0.72 g water and 0.28 g “drybiochar”). Taking into account the density of raw biochar, 0.16 g/cm³(or mL), the volume of the 0.28 g “dry biochar” is 1.75 mL (i.e. 1.75 mLdry biochar under vacuum can “absorb” and retain 0.72 mL water, or 1 mLdry biochar can retain 0.41 mL water (sorbed on the surface and into thepores)).

It was next determined where the water was retained—in the pores or onthe surface of the biochar. Capillary porosity (“CP”) (vol % inside thepores of the biochar), non-capillary porosity (“NCP”) (vol. %outside/between the particles), and the total porosity (CP+NCP)) weredetermined. Total porosity and non-capillary porosity were analyticallydetermined for the dry biochar and then capillary porosity wascalculated.

Since the dry biochar used in this experiment had a density less thanwater, the particles could be modeled and then tested to determine ifsoaking and/or treating the biochar could infuse enough water to makethe density of the biochar greater than that of water. Thus, the drybiochar would float and, if enough water infused into the pores, thesoaked or treated biochar would sink. Knowing the density of water andthe density of the biochar, calculations were done to determine thepercentage of pores that needed to be filled with water to make thebiochar sink. In this specific experiment, these calculations determinedthat more than 24% of the pore volume would need to be filled with waterfor the biochar to sink. The two processed biochars, soaked and vacuumtreated, were then immersed in water after 1 hour of said processing.The results of the experiment showed that the vast majority of thesoaked biochar floated and remained floating after 3 weeks, while thevast majority of the vacuum treated biochar sank and remained at thebottom of the water column after 3 weeks.

Using the results of these experiments and model calculations, thebiochar particles can be idealized to estimate how much more water is inthe pores from the vacuum treatment versus soaking. Since the externalsurface of the materials are the same, it was assumed that the samplesretain about the same amount of water on the surface. Then the mostconservative assumption was made using the boundary condition forparticles to be just neutral, i.e. water into pores equal 24%, the waterdistribution is estimated as follows:

VACUUM DRY SOAKED TREATED BIOCHAR BIOCHAR BIOCHAR Experimental resultFLOATED FLOATED SANK Total water (determined in 0% 52% 72% first part ofexperiment) Water in the pores (assumed 0% 24% 44% for floating biocharto be boundary condition, calculated for biochar that sank) Water on thesurface 0% 28% 28% (calculated for floating biochar, assumed to matchfloating biochar for the biochar that sank)

In summary, these experimental tests and model calculations show thatthrough vacuum treatment more than 24% of the pores of the biochar canbe filled with water and in fact at least 1.8 times the amount of watercan be infused into the pores compared to soaking. Vacuum treatment canimpregnate almost two times the amount of water into the pores for 1minute, while soaking does not change the water amount into the poresfor three weeks.

The pores may be substantially filled or completely filled withadditives to provide enhanced performance features to the biochar, suchas increased plant growth, nutrient delivery, water retention, nutrientretention, disadvantageous species control, e.g., weeds, disease causingbacteria, insects, volunteer crops, etc. By infusing liquid into thepore structure through the application of positive or negative pressure,surfactant and/or ultrasonic waves, alone or in combination, providesthe ability to impregnate the mesopores and macropores of the biocharwith additives, that include, but are not limited to, soil enhancingsolutions and solids.

The additive may be a soil enhancing agent that includes, but is not belimited to, any of the following: water, water solutions of salts,inorganic and organic liquids of different polarities, liquid organiccompounds or combinations of organic compounds and solvents, mineral andorganic oils, slurries and suspensions, supercritical liquids,fertilizers, PGPB (including plant growth promoting rhizobacteria,free-living and nodule-forming nitrogen fixing bacteria, organicdecomposers, nitrifying bacteria, and phosphate solubilizing bacteria),biocontrol agents, bioremediation agents, saprotrophic fungi,ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae, among others.

Fertilizers that may be infused into the biochar include, but are notlimited to, the following sources of nitrogen, phosphorous, andpotassium: urea, ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate, sulfur, ammoniumsulfate, monoammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, ammoniumpolyphosphate, potassium sulfate, or potassium chloride.

Similar beneficial results are expected from other additives, such as:bio pesticides; herbicides; insecticides; nematicides; plant hormones;plant pheromones; organic or inorganic fungicides; algicides;antifouling agents; antimicrobials; attractants; biocides, disinfectantsand sanitizers; miticides; microbial pesticides; molluscicides;bacteriacides; fumigants; ovicides; repellents; rodenticides,defoliants, desiccants; insect growth regulators; plant growthregulators; beneficial microbes; and, microbial nutrients or secondarysignal activators, that may also be added to the biochar in a similarmanner as a fertilizer. Additionally, beneficial macro- andmicro-nutrients such as, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, boron, zinc, iron,manganese, molybdenum, copper and chloride may also be infused into thebiochar in the form of a water solution or other solvent solution.

Examples of compounds, in addition to fertilizer, that may be infusedinto the pores of the biochar include, but are not limited to:phytohormones, such as, abscisic acid (ABA), auxins, cytokinins,gibberellins, brassinosteroies, salicylic acid, jasmonates, planetpeptide hormones, polyamines, karrikins, strigolactones;2,1,3-Benzothiadiazole (BTH), an inducer of systemic acquired resistancethat confers broad spectrum disease resistance (including soil bornepathogens); signaling agents similar to BTH in mechanism or structurethat protects against a broad range or specific plant pathogens; EPSPSinhibitors; synthetic auxins; photosystem I inhibitors photosystem IIinhibitors; and HPPD inhibitors. Growth media, broths, or othernutrition to support the growth of microbes or microbial life may alsobe infused such as Lauryl Tryptose broth, glucose, sucrose, fructose, orother sugars or micronutrients known to be beneficial to microbes.Binders or binding solutions can also be infused into the pores to aidin the adhesion of coatings, as well as increasing the ability for thetreated biochar to associate or bond with other nearby particles in seedcoating applications. Infusion with these binders can also allow for thecoating of the biochar particle itself with other beneficial organismsor substances.

In one example, a 1000 ppm NO₃ ⁻ N fertilizer solution is infused intothe pores of the biochar. As discussed above, the method to infusebiochar with the fertilizer solution may be accomplished generally byplacing the biochar in a vacuum infiltration tank or other sealablerotating vessel, chamber or tank. When using vacuum infiltration, avacuum may be applied to the biochar and then the solution may beintroduced into the tank. Alternatively, the solution and biochar mayboth be introduced into the tank and, once introduced, a vacuum isapplied. Based upon the determined total pore volume of the biochar orthe incipient wetness, the amount of solution to introduce into the tanknecessary to fill the pore of the biochar can be determined. Wheninfused in this manner, significantly more nutrients can be held in agiven quantity of biochar versus direct contact of the biochar with thenutrients alone.

When using a surfactant, the biochar and additive solution may be addedto a tank along with 0.01-20% of surfactant, but more preferably 1-5% ofsurfactant by volume of fertilizer solution. The surfactant or detergentaids in the penetration of the wash solution into the pores of thebiochar. The same or similar equipment used in the vacuum infiltrationprocess can be used in the surfactant treatment process. Although it isnot necessary to apply a vacuum in the surfactant treatment process, thevacuum infiltration tank or any other rotating vessel, chamber or tankcan be used. Again, while it is not necessary to apply a vacuum, avacuum may be applied or the pressure in the vessel may be changed.Further, the surfactant can be added with or without heat or coolingeither of the infiltrate, the biochar, the vessel itself, or anycombination of the three.

The utility of infusing the biochar with fertilizer is that the pores inbiochar create a protective “medium” for carrying the nutrients to thesoil that provides a more constant supply of available nutrients to thesoil and plants and continues to act beneficially, potentially sorbingmore nutrients or nutrients in solution even after introduction to thesoil. By infusing the nutrients in the pores of the biochar, immediateoversaturation of the soil with the nutrients is prevented and a timereleased effect is provided. This effect is illustrated in connectionwith FIGS. 14 and 15. As demonstrated in connection with FIGS. 14 & 15below, biochars having pores infused with additives, using the infusionmethods described above, have been shown to increase nutrient retention,increase crop yields and provide a steadier flow of fertilizer to theroot zones of the plants. In fact, the interior and exterior surfaces ofthe biochar may be treated to improve their sorption and exchangecapabilities for the targeted nutrients prior to inoculation orinfusion. This is the preferred approach as it allows for the tailoringof the surfaces to match the materials being carried. An example wouldbe to treat the surfaces to increase the anionic exchange capacity wheninfusing with materials which typically manifest as anions, such asnitrates.

E. Application

Given biochar's increased water retention capacities, and structure tosupport microbial life, the application of the treated biochar and, insome cases raw biochar, can greatly assist with increased efficiency ofwater and nutrients. To improve soil quality in crop applicationsbiochar preferably should be applied in a manner that incorporates ease,low cost, effectiveness, and in many cases precision, although in manyapplications this is not strictly necessary.

In order to ensure effective application the biochar to be applied, rawor treated as described previously, should have certain characteristics.At least 95% (by weight) of the biochar applied should have a particlesize less than or equal to 10 mm. Also, in order to demonstrate the bestresults of biochar addition, the biochar should have one or more of thefollowing properties: an AEC greater than 10 meq/l and preferablygreater than 20 meq/l, a CEC greater than 10 meq/l and preferablygreater than 20 meq/l, an ash content less than 15% (mass basis) andpreferably less than 5%, a hydrophobicity index below 12, morepreferably below 10, even more preferably below 6, and most preferablybetween 0 and 4 as derived by comparing the sorption of water to ethanolusing a tension infiltrometer (Tillman, R. W., D. R. Scotter, M. G.Wallis and B. E. Clothier. 1989, Water-repellency and its measurement byusing intrinsic sorptivity. Aust J. Soil Res. 27: 637-644); and a pHbetween 4 and 9 and preferably between 5 and 8.5, and even morepreferably between 5 and 6.5. Regarding hydrophobicity, a lesshydrophobic char will have the tendency to suspend in a solution muchmore uniformly, whereas a hydrophobic char will want to float. Thus,when the application relates to biochars suspended in solution, biocharswith a lower hydrophobicity index number are more desirable.

Anion exchange capacity (“AEC”) of biochar may be calculated by directlyor indirectly-saturated paste extraction of exchangeable anions, Cl—,NO3-, SO42-, and PO43- to calculate anion sum or the use of potassiumbromide to saturate anions sites at different pHs and repeated washingswith calcium chloride and final measurement of bromide (see Rhoades, J.D. 1982, Soluble salts, p. 167-179. In: A. L. Page et al. (ed.) Methodsof soil analysis: Part 2: Chemical and microbiological properties; andMichael Lawrinenkoa and David A. Laird, 015, Anion exchange capacity ofbiochar, Green Chem., 2015, 17, 4628-4636). When treated using the abovemethods, including but not limited by washing under a vacuum, treatedbiochar generally has an AEC greater than 5 milliq/l and some even havean AEC greater than 20 (millieq/l).

One method for cation exchange capacity (“CEC”) determination is the useof ammonium acetate buffered at pH 7.0 (see Schollenberger, C. J. andDreibelbis, E R. 1930, Analytical methods in base-exchangeinvestigations on soils, Soil Science, 30, 161-173). The material issaturated with 1M ammonium acetate, (NH4OAc), followed by the release ofthe NH4+ ions and its measurement in meq/100 g (milliequivalents ofcharge per 100 g of dry soil) or cmolc/kg (centimoles of charge perkilogram of dry soil). Instead of ammonium acetate, another method usesbarium chloride according to Mehlich, 1938, Use of triethanolamineacetate-barium hydroxide buffer for the determination of some baseexchange properties and lime requirement of soil, Soil Sci. Soc. Am.Proc. 29:374-378. 0.1 M BaCl2 is used to saturate the exchange sitesfollowed by replacement with either MgSO4 or MgCl2.

Indirect methods for CEC calculation involves the estimation ofextracted Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, and Na+ in a standard soil test using Mehlich3 and accounting for the exchangeable acidity (sum of H+, A13+, Mn2+,and Fe2+) if the pH is below 6.0 (see Mehlich, A. 1984, Mehlich-3 soiltest extractant: a modification of Mehlich-2 extractant, Commun. SoilSci. Plant Anal. 15(12): 1409-1416). When treated using the abovemethods, including but not limited by washing under a vacuum, treatedbiochars generally have a CEC greater than 5 millieq/l and some evenhave a CEC greater than 25 (millieq/l).

Hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity can be measured as set forth in SectionC.5 above. For measuring pH, there are a wide variety of tests,apparatus and equipment for making pH measurements. For example, andpreferably when addressing the pH of biochar, batches, particles andpore surfaces of those particles, two appropriates for measuring pH arethe Test Method for the US Composting Council (“TMCC”) 4.11-A and the pHTest Method promulgated by the International Biochar Initiative. Thetest method for the TMCC comprises mixing biochar with distilled waterin 1:5 [mass:volume] ratio, e.g., 50 grams of biochar is added to 250mol f pH 7.0±0.02 water and is stirred for 10 minutes; the pH is thenthe measured pH of the slurry. The pH Test Method promulgated by theInternational Biochar Initiative comprises 5 grams of biochar is addedto 100 mol f water pH=7.0±0.02 and the mixture is tumbled for 90minutes; 25 the pH is the pH of the slurry at the end of the 90 minutesof tumbling. In one example, prior to and before testing, biochar ispassed through a 2 mm sieve before pH is measured. All measurements aretaken according to Rajkovich et. al, Corn growth and nitrogen nutritionafter additions of biochars with varying properties to a temperate soil,Biol. Fertil. Soils (2011), from which the IBI method is based.

In many instances, treatments can be made to the biochar to allow betteraffiliation of root tissue with the material—these treatments caninclude modification of physical or chemical properties as justdescribed, but they can also involve infusion of the biochar withrooting hormones, biologicals, nutritionals, or other materials whichpromote plant root development.

It has been discovered that these same benefits can be imparted toagricultural growth through the production and application of biocharsuspended solutions as described below. The creation of biocharsuspended solutions prevents the potential for wind to blow biochar dustor fines, thus reducing biochar losses and allowing more uniformapplication and distribution. Furthermore, the biochar suspendedsolution, being wet, allows for greater penetration through the soil andallows for more accessibility for the roots of plants to garner thebiochar's advantageous physical/chemical properties.

Further, biochar may be more effectively applied if the biochar is insuspension in solution. The biochar, prior to being put in suspension insolution, may be raw or treated, as described above. If the biochar istreated, not only can the pH be adjusted as needed, as discussed above,but also fertilizers, microbes, and host of other additives may beinfused in the biochar prior to suspension in solution (as furtherdescribed below). However, regardless of whether the biochar is raw ortreated, the present application for the suspension of biochar insolution can be utilized for both.

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram of an example of a method that may be used forproducing biochar solutions. For purposes of this application, “biocharsolution” or “biochar suspended solution” shall mean biochar that hasbeen added or suspended in a liquid, alone or in combination with otheradditives. In general, the method of producing liquid productscontaining biochar may be accomplished by sufficiently de-sizing thebiochar to pass through nozzles and/or mesh screens, dispersing thebiochar in solution, such as water, and adding xanthan gum and/or otheradditives to keep the biochar in suspension, in solution.

At step 1602, biochar particles, either treated or raw, are collectedfor use in solution. The biochar particles may be collected in anynumber of ways, including but not limited to: (i) flow from a centrifugeeffluent, (ii) from biochar granular product, or (ii) a combination ofboth a centrifuge effluent and granulated product. In all cases, thecollected biochar may be passed to a media mill, air impingement, burrgrinder, or other grinding, milling, or particle sizing equipment forproduction of smaller particles. The media mill or other similarequipment (e.g., attritor mill) allows for the de-sizing of the biocharproduct through dry and/or wet grinding. Micro particles may also becollected directly by traditional desizing equipment, including but notlimited to hammer mills and grinders. Those skilled in the art willrecognize that other desizing equipment, such as impellers, ultrasonicmechanisms, vibrators, shakers, or other devices besides hammer millsand grinders may be used to produce and collect biochar micro particles.Flocculants such as polyacrylamide can also be used at levels of 1000ppm or less to collect the micro particles and to create a biochar microparticle cake. The residual amount of flocculant left in the microparticle cake will vary depending on the amount of flocculant thatleaves with the liquid. Those skilled in the art will recognize thatother flocculants, besides polyacrylamide may be used to clump thebiochar particles together and other agents besides flocculants may beused to separate the solid micro particles from liquid for storing,transporting, or other purposes. Differences or variation in liquid orgas flow speed, rate, or pressure may also be used to sort particlesbased on their hydrodynamic or aerodynamic properties.

At step 1604, the biochar micro particles may then be dispersed in aliquid solution to create a biocarbon solution having a biochar solidcontent of approximately 1-75%, most desirable ranges between 15-70%.The liquid solution may include, but not be limited to, water, deionizedwater, liquid fertilizer and/or any combination thereof. Other liquidand/or solid additives may also be included in solution withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. Once mixed in solution, theresulting biochar solution may then be passed through nozzles and meshscreens to remove any large biochar particles from the solution, at step1606. Filters, such as nozzles and screen may be used to filterparticles of sizes greater than about 0.2 mm. For example, mesh screensranging from 0.2 mm-7.0 mm in size may be used to filter undesiredlarger particle sizes from solution. For example, a 15 mesh screenhaving 1.0 mm-1.2 mm openings may be used to filter undesired largerparticle sizes from solution. Those skilled in the art will alsorecognize that the step of filtering out the larger particles mayalternatively occur prior to or during the collection process (at step1602).

To best hold the biochar in suspension, biochar micro particle sizes ofabout 0.5 mm or less may be desired or may depend on the method ofapplication. For example, if applying biochar suspended solution withirrigation equipment, less than 0.05 mm, 0.025 mm, 0.01 mm, or even lessmay be desired, whereas less than 1 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.2 mm, or even lessthan 0.1 mm may be desired if applying biochar suspended solution withvarying types of fertilizer equipment.

The following table shows the particle size distribution and physicalcharacteristics of particles when held in suspension to support theefficacy of using biochar held in suspension compared to other mixturessuch as solutions and colloids:

Characteristic Solution Colloid Suspension Type of particle individualvery large individual very large molecules or molecules or aggregates ofions aggregates of tens to molecules thousands of smaller moleculesParticle size <1 nm ~1 nm to ~200 nm >100 nm Separation by no no(usually, otherwise, yes gravity? very slowly) Separation by no yes, formore massive yes centrifugation? dispersed particles Captured by filterno no yes paper? Captured by no yes (usually) yes membrane? Precipitableby no yes yes flocculation? Exhibits Tyndall no yes yes Effect? Affectscolligative yes no no properties?

-   -   “Laboratory 18.0: Colloids and Suspensions—Introduction.” Table        18-2. http://makezine.com/laboratory-18-colloids-and-suspensi/.

It should be noted that the pH of the biochar solution can affect howmuch biochar particles will stay in solution and the viscosity of saidsolution. Thus it may be beneficial to add an acid or base before,during, or after these steps. For example, lowering the viscosity of thesolution by adding a base to the solution prior to wet milling willallow for more efficient milling and result in a higher amount of solidsfit for the solution, i.e. less particles will be removed during thelarge particle removal step. Then, after the wet milling an acid couldbe added to bring the pH back down and provide the viscous stability toensure the particles stay and solution instead of settling.

At step 1608, a stabilizing agent may then be added to keep the biocharin flowable suspension and prevent it from settling. The stabilizingagent can include xanthan gum at about 0.1% to 0.7% by weight to thesolution or it can vary depending on the solids already in solution, thepercentage of solids in solution and/or the particle size of the biocharused to create the solution. Alternative natural or synthetic agentswith pseudoplastic rheology capable of suspending biocarbon particles insolution may also be added at this step such as alkali swellable acrylicthickeners, inorganic substances, surfactants or other water bornthickeners. Isothiazolin type preservatives could also be added toprevent biological degradation of the xanthan gum. For example, 50 ppmof active Kathon™ LX 1.5% biocide may be added to protect the xanthangum. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other preservativesmay be used to prevent biological degradation of the xanthan gum. Thoseskilled in the art will also recognize that the step of addingstabilizing agents may alternatively occur prior to, during, or afterthe collection process (at step 1602).

For example, the stabilizing agent could be added prior to the creationof the suspended biochar solution by mixing or spraying the agents ondry biochar particles either prior or post micro particle collectionprocess. In fact, they could even be added or infuse into the biocharduring the treatment processes. This could allow for the production,transport, and/or sale of a dry or semi-dry biochar product that couldthen be turned into a solution after production, for example at the timeof sale or just prior to application at say the farm where it will beapplied. Similarly, the process of adjusting the density of the biocharcan be combined with the process of adding stabilizing agents orthickeners.

Depending on the thickener or stabilizing agent used at step 1608, apreservative may also be added to ensure an optimal product with longshelf life. Choosing the right preservative is important as the biocharitself can absorb certain preservatives and thus allow unwantedmicrobiological growth in the solution over time. Potentialpreservatives that may be used are polymeric preservatives such as polyquats or formaldehyde emitter preservatives. Chlorine basedpreservatives are not generally used as the biochar can degrade chlorinein a short amount of time. Another option to avoid biochar solutiondegradation is to choose a stabilizing agent that will not rot orencourage microbiological growth in the solution. One example of this isclay based thickeners such as Attagel and Veegum. An exception to thiswould be cases in which microbial agents are to be inoculated on orsuspended with the biochar itself. A third option is to not create thesolution until right before it will be used, for example at the time ofsale or at the time of application. The shorter shelf-life reduceschances of solution degradation.

Optionally, growth enhancing additives, including but not limited to,fertilizers, liquid micronutrients, liquid manure, liquefied compost orcompost “tea”, compost extract and beneficial microbes can be added tothe biochar solution. These additives may be added either prior, during,or after the suspended biochar solution is created. For example, theadditive may be infused into the biochar prior to creating the solutionusing vacuum infiltration or a surfactant as further described above.Alternatively, or in addition to infusing the biochar with additives,additives may be included with the biochar solution described aboveprior, during or after creation of the biochar solution.

For example, fertilizers may be pulverized to an average particle sizeof <1 mm and included with the solid biochar or added to solution.Liquid fertilizers may also be used in solution. For example, 1000 ppmNO3⁻ N fertilizer solution may be used. Examples of fertilizers that maybe added to the solution, include, but are not limited to the following:ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, monoammonium phosphate, ammoniumpolyphosphate, Cal-Mag fertilizers or micronutrient fertilizers. Otheradditives, such as fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, planthormones, beneficial microbial spores, or secondary signal activators,may also be added to the solution in a similar manner as a fertilizer,the inclusion of which does not depart from the scope of the invention.Additionally, beneficial macro- and micro-nutrients such as nitrogen,phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, boron, zinc, iron,manganese, molybdenum, copper and chloride can be added to the suspendedbiochar solution. As set forth above, in addition to adding these tosolution, such additives can be infused into the biochar prior tocreating the solution.

Examples of compounds, in addition to fertilizer, that may be mixed withthe biochar solution or infused into the biochar prior to creating thesolution include, but are not limited to: 2,1,3-Benzothiadiazole (BTH),an inducer of systemic acquired resistance that confers broad spectrumdisease resistance (including soil borne pathogens); signaling agentssimilar to BTH in mechanism or structure that protects against a broadrange or specific plant pathogens; biopesticides; herbicides; andfungicides.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that there are many othermechanisms and processes that may be used to produce biochar solutionswithout departing from the scope of the invention. Those skilled in theart will further recognize that the present invention can be used on anytype of soil application, including, but not limited to, the following:crops, turf grasses, potted plants, flowering plants, annuals,perennials, evergreens and seedlings. Further, it should be noted thatthe above described steps to create the solution can be performed in anyorder, or steps may be repeated during the process.

By putting the biochar solution, as taught above, a variety of equipmentmay be used for the application of the suspended biochar solution. Theability to uniformly apply the biochar solution is also enhanced byallowing the use of pumps, sprays and various other types of equipmentcapable of handling liquid dispersion. For example, Sprayers, booms, andmisting heads can be an efficient way to apply the biochar solution to alarge area, while backpacks or hose sprayers can be sufficient forsmaller applications. Aside from spraying applications, biochar solutionmay also be pumped through the ground to eliminate the potential forwind erosion while allowing for faster infiltration into the soil.Furthermore, biochar solution can be used in connection with a varietyof equipment used for hydroseeding, manure spreading (either solid orliquid), foliar spraying, irrigation, or other liquid applicationtechnologies. As there are so many different options to apply biocharsuspended solutions or solution, much time and expense can be saved.

In addition, the use of a biochar suspended solution can allow for moreefficient and focused applications to ensure the biochar treatment staysin the root zone, or is deployed in the vicinity of juvenile ordeveloping root tissue, thus reducing the amount of biochar needed on acubic yard per acre basis. For example, if the biochar solution is putthrough irrigation tape that is laid directly in a row crop bed thebiochar will only be treating the root zones of said crop in the bedsand not the row crop furrows nor above or below the root zone in thebed. Not only does this lessen the cost by reducing the amount ofbiochar needed it also can lessen the cost of the application methoditself as it can be applied using the same equipment that may already beavailable for irrigation and liquid fertilizer application.

The application of the biochar solution can be used for trees, rowcrops, vines, turf grasses, potted plants, flowering plants, annuals,perennials, evergreens and seedlings. The biochar solution may beincorporated into or around the root zone of a plant at ratios ofbetween 1:999 to 1:1. However, an application does not necessarily needto be restricted or limited to these ratios. Biochar can be added tosoil at a concentration of 0.01% up to 99% depending upon theapplication, plant type and plant size. As most trees, rows, andspecialty crops extract greater than 90% of their water from the firsttwenty-four inches below the soil surface, the above applications willgenerally be effective incorporating the biochar around the root zonefrom the top surface of the soil and up to a depth of 24″ below the topsurface of the soil, depending on the plant type and species, oralternatively, within a 24″ radius surrounding the roots regardless ofroot depth or proximity from the top surface of the soil. When the plantroots are closer to the surface, the incorporation of the biochar withinthe top 2-6″ inches of the soil surface may also be effective. Greaterdepths are more beneficial for plants having larger root zones, such astrees.

The biochar suspended solution may also be applied to animal pens,bedding, and/or other areas where animal waste is present to reduce odorand emission of unpleasant or undesirable vapors. Furthermore it may beapplied to compost piles to reduce odor, emissions, and temperature oreven to areas where fertilizer or pesticide runoff is occurring to slowor inhibit leaching and runoff. In some instances, it may even be mixedwith animal feed, fed to animals directly as a liquid, or used inaquaculture applications.

Biochar solution may also be utilized and applied through irrigationequipment for both low flow and high flow irrigation systems. For thepurpose of this application, “low flow system” includes but is notlimited to micro sprays, drip emitters, and drip lines and “high flowsystems” includes but is not limited to fixed sprays, rotors, bubblers,and soaker hoses. Although the utilization of the chemical and physicalproperties of biochar for optimal plant growth would ideally be mosteffective when applied to plants during their peak growing cycle, all ofthe applications discussed above can be applied at any time during thedifferent stages of plant growth or ground preparation as needed.Similarly, the methods of application can be repeated as many times asneeded from year to year depending on factors not limited to plant type,climate, soil properties, topography, and light. In summary, when anytype of liquid is applied to the plants such as water or liquidfertilizer, the suspended biochar solution can be added to the liquid inorder to provide further soil enhancement characteristics.

An alternative method for creating a biochar solution is to instead makea biochar slurry using a process similar to hydromulching orhydroseeding. With this method the size reduction step can be reduced oreliminated since the process is typically applicable for larger particlesizes in which the resulting slurry is applied through pumps and sprays.For this application method typically the granular biochar will be mixedwith water, fiber mulch, and optionally a tackifier at time ofapplication and then sprayed to area needed. In addition, it can bemixed with fertilizer, seeds, or other additives including dyes to helpaid in uniform distribution. Typical hydroseeding and hydromulchingequipment may be used and generally include a tank mounted truck that isequipped with a special pump and continuous agitation system. The pumpthen pushes the slurry though a hose and nozzle for application. Tocreate a biochar slurry for this application the fiber mulch is usuallya cellulose based material which can be made from shredded waste papersources and can include dyes, binders, or other additives. The optionaltackifier can include but is not limited to guar gum, xanthan gum,plantago gum, methyl cellulose, pectin, lignin, seedmeals, such ascamelina or lesquerella, polysaccharide gums, or starches, such as cornstarch. The addition of a tackifier increases the biochar slurry'seffectiveness especially when applied on a slope, on an area that iserosion prone, or other areas that would cause concern of the biocharapplication being washed away due to rain or irrigation. If the slurryis to be made significantly prior to application then a preservativewould likely be needed as well to ensure a longer shelf life. Otherwisethe biochar, fiber, and tackifier can be mixed dry and then turned intoa slurry just prior to application or even onsite, similarily to currentpractices of hydromulching and hydroseeding. This biochar slurry may beparticularly useful in turf and landscape applications wherehydroseeding or hydromulching is already being used. In the case of turfparticularly, it could be either mixed with grass seeds prior toapplication or applied immediately prior to the hydroseedingapplication. A process similar to this can be used for mixing thebiochar with manure to create a manure slurry, either in lagoons, or atany point prior to application of the manure.

The foregoing description of implementations has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not exhaustive and doesnot limit the claimed inventions to the precise form disclosed.Modifications and variations are possible in light of the abovedescription or may be acquired from practicing the invention. The claimsand their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A method for coating seeds with biochar, the methodcomprising the steps of (i) suspending biochar micro particles of lessthan 0.1 mm in a liquid solution; and (ii) coating seeds with the liquidsolution.
 2. The method of claim 1, where the liquid solution has aconcentration of 1-75% biochar micro particles.
 3. The method of claim1, where the liquid solution has a concentration of 15-70% biochar microparticles.
 4. The method of claim 1 where the liquid solution includes apreservative, where the preservative is not the biochar.
 5. The methodof claim 1 where the liquid solution includes both water and anadditive.
 6. The method of claim 5 where the additive comprises at leastone of a fertilizer, plant nutrient, biological agent beneficial toplants, manure, liquid solution of compost, fungicide, insecticide,nematicide, plant hormone, beneficial microbial spore, or secondarysignal activator.
 7. The method of claim 1 where the biochar particlesin solution haves been treated by infusing a liquid into the pores ofthe biochar particles.
 8. The method of claim 1 where the biochar microparticles have a hydrophobicity index less than
 6. 9. The method ofclaim 1 where the biochar micro particles have a pH between 4 and
 9. 10.A method for coating seeds with biochar, the method comprising the stepsof (i) suspending biochar particles in a liquid solution, where thebiochar particles have a hydrophobicity index of less than 6; and (ii)coating seeds with the liquid solution.
 11. The method of claim 10,where the liquid solution has a concentration of 1-75% biocharparticles.
 12. The method of claim 10 where the liquid solution includesa preservative, where the preservative is not biochar.
 13. The method ofclaim 10 where the liquid solution includes both water and an additive.14. The method of claim 13 where the additive comprises at least one ofa fertilizer, plant nutrient, biological agent beneficial to plants,manure, liquid solution of compost, fungicide, insecticide, nematicide,plant hormone, beneficial microbial spore, or secondary signalactivator.
 15. The method of claim 10 where the biochar particles areless than 0.5 mm.
 16. The method of claim 10 where the biochar particleshave a pH between 4 and
 9. 17. The method of claim 10 where the liquidsolution includes a stabilizing agent.
 18. A method for coating seedswith biochar, the method comprising the steps of (i) suspending biocharparticles in a liquid solution with a stabilizing agent; and (ii)coating seeds with the liquid solution.
 19. The method of claim 18,where the stabilizing agent is xanthum gum, alkali swellable acrylicthickeners, inorganic substances, surfactants, water born thickeners, orclay.
 20. The method of claim 18, where the stabilizing agent is morethan 0.1% by weight of the solution.
 21. The method of claim 18 wherethe liquid solution includes a preservative, where the preservative isnot biochar.
 22. The method of claim 18 where the liquid solutionincludes both water and an additive.
 23. The method of claim 22 wherethe additive is a fertilizer, plant nutrient, biological agentbeneficial to plants, manure, liquid solution of compost, fungicide,insecticide, nematicide, plant hormone, beneficial microbial spore, orsecondary signal activator.
 24. The method of claim 18 where the biocharparticles are less than 0.5 mm.
 25. The method of claim 18 where thebiochar particles have a pH between 4 and 9.